06-09-2007, 11:40 PM
This week marks a special anniversary in UAB history. It was 30 years ago this week that UAB started its athletic program with the hiring of Gene Bartow from UCLA. To mark this special anniversary, this week I am going to reprint the articles that appeared in the Birmingham News.
On June 10, 1977, the article that was written was a little premature. It reported that Gene Bartow was headed to UAB, although the school and Bartow was denying it at that time. Enjoy the read
On June 10, 1977, the article that was written was a little premature. It reported that Gene Bartow was headed to UAB, although the school and Bartow was denying it at that time. Enjoy the read
Quote:
The Birmingham News, Friday, June 10, 1977
Bartow picked to make UAB a cage power
by Wayne Martin
Basketball coach Gene Bartow is trading four letters for three – UCLA for UAB.
The Bruins basketball coach was scheduled to come to Birmingham today to become the head basketball coach at University of Alabama-Birmingham. So he’s also trading the school with probably the best basketball reputation in America for one that doesn’t even have a team.
A spokesman for UAB, who asked to remain unidentified, said today, “I understand he (Bartow) will be in town today to sign the contract. He’s really the only one who was ever considered for the job.”
A spokesman in the University Public Relations office said, however, that Bartow would not be in Birmingham today, and that an announcement concerning the new head coach “whoever may be picked” would be made sometime next week.
UAB has only a club and intramural program, and probably will have little more than that for the coming season. A source close to the situation said that the first season will probably be spent in recruiting and establishing a program. “But Bartow doesn’t really know what he will do yet,” the source said. “He doesn’t even know what the situation is.”
UAB has had only a physical education department since its inception with no intercollegiate competition. “That’s the way (former president” Dr. Joseph Volker wanted it.” One UAB source said. Volker is now the chancellor of the University of Alabama system.
“But Dr. S. Richardson Hill (present President of UAB) wanted a big-time basketball program. The thinking was that to go into basketball in a big way, you had to get a big name; a young man who knows coaches, can recruit and can schedule.”
Under the new system, the physical education department and the athletic department would probably be split, with Bartow heading the athletic department and Dr. James Sharman continuing to head the physical education department.
Bartow comes to Birmingham from New York where he attended an awards dinner honoring UCLA All-American Marques Johnson. He at first denied reports of the UAB position. Later, however, he said, “It is just a rumor. I’ve talked with those people. I know they are interested in setting up a basketball program, but that is all I know…”
Bartow coached at Memphis State, Illinois and at UCLA for the past two seasons as the successor to John Wooden.
Despite two straight Pacific-8 championships, he has come under increasing criticism in the media and from some UCLA supporters after his teams failed to win the national championship. The Bruins had won 10 national titles under Wooden.
Bartow compiled a 147-21 record as a high school coach at St. Charles, MO, and was 47-21 at Central Missouri State before going 93-69 in six years at Valparaiso.
Dr. Jerry Young, UAB’s vice-president for finance, was reportedly instrumental in bringing Bartow to Birmingham. The two are close friends. Both are Washington graduates, and Young was asked by Dr. Hill to talk to coaches about the UAB position.
Bartow picked to make UAB a cage power
by Wayne Martin
Basketball coach Gene Bartow is trading four letters for three – UCLA for UAB.
The Bruins basketball coach was scheduled to come to Birmingham today to become the head basketball coach at University of Alabama-Birmingham. So he’s also trading the school with probably the best basketball reputation in America for one that doesn’t even have a team.
A spokesman for UAB, who asked to remain unidentified, said today, “I understand he (Bartow) will be in town today to sign the contract. He’s really the only one who was ever considered for the job.”
A spokesman in the University Public Relations office said, however, that Bartow would not be in Birmingham today, and that an announcement concerning the new head coach “whoever may be picked” would be made sometime next week.
UAB has only a club and intramural program, and probably will have little more than that for the coming season. A source close to the situation said that the first season will probably be spent in recruiting and establishing a program. “But Bartow doesn’t really know what he will do yet,” the source said. “He doesn’t even know what the situation is.”
UAB has had only a physical education department since its inception with no intercollegiate competition. “That’s the way (former president” Dr. Joseph Volker wanted it.” One UAB source said. Volker is now the chancellor of the University of Alabama system.
“But Dr. S. Richardson Hill (present President of UAB) wanted a big-time basketball program. The thinking was that to go into basketball in a big way, you had to get a big name; a young man who knows coaches, can recruit and can schedule.”
Under the new system, the physical education department and the athletic department would probably be split, with Bartow heading the athletic department and Dr. James Sharman continuing to head the physical education department.
Bartow comes to Birmingham from New York where he attended an awards dinner honoring UCLA All-American Marques Johnson. He at first denied reports of the UAB position. Later, however, he said, “It is just a rumor. I’ve talked with those people. I know they are interested in setting up a basketball program, but that is all I know…”
Bartow coached at Memphis State, Illinois and at UCLA for the past two seasons as the successor to John Wooden.
Despite two straight Pacific-8 championships, he has come under increasing criticism in the media and from some UCLA supporters after his teams failed to win the national championship. The Bruins had won 10 national titles under Wooden.
Bartow compiled a 147-21 record as a high school coach at St. Charles, MO, and was 47-21 at Central Missouri State before going 93-69 in six years at Valparaiso.
Dr. Jerry Young, UAB’s vice-president for finance, was reportedly instrumental in bringing Bartow to Birmingham. The two are close friends. Both are Washington graduates, and Young was asked by Dr. Hill to talk to coaches about the UAB position.