Harry Combes
Sport(s) | Basketball |
---|---|
Current position | |
Title | Head coach |
Biographical details | |
Born |
Monticello, Illinois | March 3, 1915
Died | November 13, 1977 62) | (aged
Playing career | |
1935–1937 | Illinois |
Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
1938–1967 |
Champaign High School Illinois |
Head coaching record | |
Overall | 316-150 |
Accomplishments and honors | |
Championships | |
IHSA Boys Basketball Championship (1946) Big Ten Conference Champions (1949, 1951, 1952, 1963) Regional Championships - Final Four (1949, 1951, 1952) | |
Awards | |
100 Legends of the IHSA Boys Basketball Tournament (2007) |
Harry Combes (March 3, 1915 – November 13, 1977), a native of Monticello, Illinois, served as head men's basketball coach at University of Illinois between 1947 and 1967.
Combes played high school basketball for Monticello High School, where he led his teams to an overall combined record of 72-9.
A three-year letterwinner, Combes was also a star player for the Illini from 1935–1937 and helped lead Illinois to both its Big Ten titles in the 1930s.
Combes began coaching basketball at Champaign High School, where he posted an astounding 254-46 record, including winning the state title in 1946. Beyond the single championship, Combes led Champaign Central to seven state tournament appearances in nine years from 1939 to 1947. During that time the Maroons captured fourth place in 1940 and 1944 before starting three years of amazing runs to the championship game where they finished second in 1945, first in 1946, and second in 1947. In 2007, the Illinois High School Association named Combes one of the 100 Legends of the IHSA Boys Basketball Tournament.[1]
Once at Illinois he won three Big Ten titles in his first five seasons ('49, '51, and '52). Combes led Illinois to three third-place finishes in the NCAA Tournament in the four-year period from 1949-1952. The squad won 79 of the 100 games during those four years. Illinois' 1952 Final Four appearance was the first officially recognized Final Four and the only Final Four appearance Illinois made until 1989. Until Lou Henson broke the record in 1990, Combes' 316 wins were the most wins ever by an Illinois head basketball coach.[2]
Combes also served as boys baseball coach at Champaign High School, where he compiled an impressive 70-26-2 (.724) record over a five-year period (1937–1942).
Coaching record - Basketball
School | Season | Record | Postseason |
---|---|---|---|
Champaign HS | 1938-39 | 18-9 | State Quarterfinals |
Champaign HS | 1939-40 | 26-8 | State Semifinals |
Champaign HS | 1940-41 | 26-3 | |
Champaign HS | 1941-42 | 22-7 | |
Champaign HS | 1942-43 | 25-6 | State Quarterfinals |
Champaign HS | 1943-44 | 31-6 | State Semifinals |
Champaign HS | 1944-45 | 34-2 | State Championship (Runner-up) |
Champaign HS | 1945-46 | 38-1 | State Championship |
Champaign HS | 1946-47 | 34-4 | State Championship (Runner-up) |
Total | Champaign HS | 254-46 | 88-47 |
School | Season | Record | Conference Record, Place | Postseason (Final AP Rank) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Illinois | 1947-48 | 15-5 | 7-5 | |
Illinois | 1948-49 | 21-4 | 10-2, 1st | NCAA Playoff, 3rd (#4) |
Illinois | 1949-50 | 14-8 | 7-5, T3rd | |
Illinois | 1950-51 | 22-5 | 13-1, 1st | NCAA Playoff, 3rd (#5) |
Illinois | 1951-52 | 22-4 | 12-2, 1st | NCAA Final Four, 3rd (#2) |
Illinois | 1952-53 | 18-4 | 14-4, 2nd | (#11) |
Illinois | 1953-54 | 17-5 | 10-4, T3rd | (#19) |
Illinois | 1954-55 | 17-5 | 10-4, T2 | (#18) |
Illinois | 1955-56 | 18-4 | 11-3, 2nd | (#7) |
Illinois | 1956-57 | 14-8 | 7-7, 7th | |
Illinois | 1957-58 | 11-11 | 5-9, T8th | |
Illinois | 1958-59 | 12-10 | 7-7, T5 | |
Illinois | 1959-60 | 16-7 | 8-6, T3 | |
Illinois | 1960-61 | 9-15 | 5-9, 7th | |
Illinois | 1961-62 | 15-8 | 7-7, T4 | |
Illinois | 1962-63 | 20-6 | 11-3, 1st | NCAA Second Round, (#8) |
Illinois | 1963-64 | 13-11 | 6-8, T6th | |
Illinois | 1964-65 | 18-6 | 10-4, 3rd | |
Illinois | 1965-66 | 12-12 | 8-6, T3rd | |
Illinois | 1966-67 | 21-12 | 6-8 | |
Total | Illinois | 316-150 | 174-104 |
See also
External links
- Harry Combes profile, sports-reference.com
References
- ↑ http://www.ihsa.org/initiatives/legends/index.htm
- ↑ 2004-2005 University of Illinois Men's Basketball Program