Leon Black (basketball) explained

Leon Black
Birth Date:21 February 1932
Death Place:Austin, Texas, U.S.
Player Years1:1950–1953
Player Team1:Texas
Coach Years1:1959–1964
Coach Team1:Lon Morris College
Coach Years2:1964–1967
Coach Team2:Texas (assistant)
Coach Years3:1967–1976
Coach Team3:Texas
Overall Record:106–121
Tournament Record:1–3 (NCAA)
Championships:2 SWC regular season (1972, 1974)

Leon Black (February 21, 1932 – October 12, 2021) was an American college basketball coach.[1]

Black, who coached the Texas Longhorns men's basketball team from 1967 to 1976, guided the Longhorns to two NCAA Tournaments as a result of winning the Southwest Conference twice in his nine seasons as head coach. The Longhorns lost in the Sweet Sixteen in 1972 and the first round in 1974. Prior to his time at Texas, Black was head coach at junior college Lon Morris College, compiling a 131–35 record in five seasons.[2]

Black resigned from Texas on February 28, 1976 and was replaced by Abe Lemons seventeen days later on March 16.[3]

Black died on October 12, 2021.[4]

Notes and References

  1. https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/texas-longhorns/2021/10/12/former-texas-mens-basketball-coach-leon-black-dies-at-89-years-old/ Former Texas men’s basketball coach Leon Black dies at 89 years old
  2. News: Black promoted to top post . The Austin American. May 21, 1967. 58. Newspapers.com. October 14, 2021.
  3. https://www.nytimes.com/1976/03/17/archives/people-in-sports-big-10s-first-black-court-coach.html Dinkin, Naomi. "People in Sports," The New York Times, Wednesday, March 17, 1976.
  4. Web site: Former Men’s Basketball player and coach Leon Black passes away. October 12, 2021. Texassports.com. October 16, 2021.