User:Todd Coles/Sandbox2

Henry Payne Iba (August 6, 1904 - January 15, 1993) was an American basketball coach. He coached for 36 years at Oklahoma State University (originally Oklahoma A&M), leading the team to two consecutive NCAA titles in 1945 and 1946. He also coached the USA Olympic basketball team in 1964, 1968, and 1972, winning two gold medals but losing in the controversial 1972 game which saw the Soviet Union win the gold. He is also noted for pioneering ball control offense and man-to-man defense, which are still influential in today's game.

Early life

Iba was born in Easton, Missouri on August 6, 1904. He was a natural athlete and began playing on the town's adult baseball team, which his father coached, at the age of 14. During his freshman year of high school, the school started a boys basketball team - the court was made from smoothed dirt and the baskets were homemade. Iba and the team gradually improved and by his senior year the team had made it to the third round of the state tournament and he was the leading scorer on the team.

In 1923 he accepted an athletic scholarship at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. While he was recruited to play basketball, athletes at Westminster were encouraged to participate in other sports programs as well. In addition to basketball, Iba played football, baseball, and track. Iba continued to develop as an athlete and by his senior season, Westminster won championships in all four sports, and he was selected to the all-conference team in basketball.

Coaching Career

Early career

Iba began his coaching career in 1927 at Classen High School in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Bringing his ball control style to the team, he led them to a 51-5 record over the next two years, including a state championship in 1928-29. Following the 1929 season, Iba accepted his first college coaching position at Marysville State Teachers College in Missouri.

Legacy

http://www.hoophall.com/halloffamers/bhof-henry-iba.html