Don Eddy (basketball) explained

Don Eddy
Birth Date:16 December 1935
Birth Place:Kenova, West Virginia, U.S.
Death Place:San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Player Years1:1955–1958
Player Team1:Southern Miss
Player Positions:Guard
Coach Years1:1966–1968
Coach Team1:East Tennessee State (asst.)
Coach Years2:1968–1980
Coach Team2:Eastern Illinois
Coach Years3:1981–1986
Coach Team3:UTSA

Don R. Eddy (December 16, 1935 – November 5, 2017) was an American college basketball coach, known for his tenure at Eastern Illinois University and as the first head basketball coach for the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA).

Eddy played college basketball for Southern Miss. Following his college career, he coached at Southwest High School in Atlanta, then served as an assistant at East Tennessee State. He was hired as head coach at Eastern Illinois in 1968.[1] Eddy coached the Panthers for twelve seasons, compiling a 208–128 record as he guided the program from NCAA Division II to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). He led the Panthers to Division II Final Four in 1976 and 1978.[2]

On May 14, 1980, Eddy was announced as the first head coach for UTSA, with the school planning to a field team starting in the 1980–81 season.[3] After compiling a record of 56–54, he resigned following an altercation with a player in a January 26, 1986, game.[4]

After his coaching career, Eddy ran basketball camps in San Antonio and Brenham, Tx.[5] He died on November 5, 2017, at the age of 81.[6]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Eddy advances. The Jackson Sun. May 12, 1968. 33. Newspapers.com. November 11, 2017.
  2. News: Eddy advances. Mattoon (IL) Journal Gazette. February 1, 1997. 12. Newspapers.com. November 11, 2017.
  3. News: Eddy years revisited at EIU. Green Bay Press-Gazette. May 14, 1980. 25. Newspapers.com. November 11, 2017.
  4. News: UTSA coach resigns. Galveston Daily News. February 8, 1986. 21. Newspapers.com. November 11, 2017.
  5. News: Don Eddy: A straight shooter. Kerrville (TX) Times. July 24, 1986. 10. Newspapers.com. November 11, 2017.
  6. News: Whisler. John. Former UTSA basketball coach Don Eddy dies. November 11, 2017. San Antonio Express-News. November 7, 2017.