 Bob Vanatta from The Savitar, 1963 | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 7, 1918 Columbia, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | October 22, 2016 (aged 98) Jupiter, Florida, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1943–1945 | Central (MO) |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1947–1950 | Central (MO) |
| 1950–1953 | SW Missouri State |
| 1953–1954 | Army |
| 1954–1956 | Bradley |
| 1956–1962 | Memphis State |
| 1962–1967 | Missouri |
| 1972–1973 | Delta State |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 1956 | Bradley |
| 1973–1976 | Oral Roberts |
| 1976–1979 | Ohio Valley Conference (comm.) |
| 1979–1983 | Trans America Athletic Conference (comm.) |
| 1983–1986 | Louisiana Tech |
| 1986–1994 | Sunshine State Conference (comm.) |
| 1997–1999 | Florida Atlantic (assoc. AD) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 333–200 |
| Tournaments | 2–2 (NCAA) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 2× NAIA champion (1952, 1953) | |
Bob Vanatta (July 7, 1918 – October 22, 2016) was an American basketball coach and college athletics administrator. He was the head basketball coach for Central Methodist, Missouri State University, Army, Bradley, Memphis State, Missouri, and Delta State University. At Missouri State, he won the 1952 and 1953 NAIA Championships. He compiled a 109-34 record at Memphis State, including making it to the 1957 NIT Championship game. After coaching, he later served as athletic director at Oral Roberts University, commissioner of the Ohio Valley Conference, commissioner of the Atlantic Sun Conference, executive director of the Independence Bowl, athletic director at Louisiana Tech University, commissioner of the Sunshine State Conference, president of the NCAA Division II Conference Commissioner's Association, and associate athletic director at Florida Atlantic University. He was a Palm Beach County Sports Commission member, which presents the Lou Groza Award to the nation's top placekicker.
Vanatta died October 22, 2016, aged 98, in Melbourne, Florida.[1]
