DON HASKINS - INDUCTEE #146
hall of fame fast facts:
Don Haskins was portrayed by actor Josh Lucas in the film "Glory Road." Haskins himself appeared in the movie as an extra, playing a gas station attendant.
Don Haskins
Coach Don Haskins inspired the book and movie, Glory Road. He is best remembered for starting five black players against Adolph Rupp’s all-white Kentucky Wildcats in the ’66 finals. Haskins’ Miners won 72-65.
Haskins was born in Enid, Oklahoma and played basketball for Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State) under Henry Iba. He had his first coaching job at Benjamin High School, then Hedley, and Dumas. He moved his family of six to El Paso in 1961 and became Texas Western’s (now UTEP) coach.
His teams went 18-6, 19-7, 25-3, and 18-9 before the 28-1, 1965-66 season. The Miners beat Oklahoma City, Cincinnati, Kansas, and Utah in their march to the NCAA finals. He coached the Miners until 1999, registering a 719-335 record. His teams reached the NCAA tournament 14 times and played in seven National Invitation Tournaments.
In 38 years, he had five losing seasons.
Haskins died in 2008 in El Paso.
