Ron Greene

Ron Greene (born 1939 in Terre Haute, Indiana) is an American basketball coach who served as head coach of three Division I college basketball teams, as well as teams in Division II, the World Basketball League, the American Basketball Association, and high school.

Early career

Greene's coaching career began in 1965 where he was an assistant coach at Loyola University New Orleans. The team went 9-17 in his only season as an assistant before being promoted to the head coaching position. He spent two seasons as the Wolfpack head coach before leaving to coach at the University of New Orleans, then known as LSU-New Orleans.

University of New Orleans

Greene was hired by UNO when the school began intercollegiate varsity competition in 1969-70 season. He compiled a 149–64 (.700) record in eight seasons. Four of his teams qualified for NCAA tournaments. The Privateers finished fourth in 1974 Division II tourney and second in the 1975 tourney. Greene paved the way for the Privateers’ move to Division I in the 1975–76 season.^[1]

Mississippi State University

Greene only spent the 1977–1978 season with the Bulldogs. That year, the Bulldogs finished with a 18-9 record.^[2] Several hours after The Associated Press had named Ron Greene the Southeastern Conference basketball coach of the year and the Mississippi state board had voted him a $7500 raise, Greene announced he was leaving the job to become coach of his alma mater Murray State.^[3]

Murray State University

After managing only 4 wins in his first season in Murray, Greene coached the Racers to 23 wins the following year and an appearance in the National Invitation Tournament. The Racers knocked off Jacksonville and Alabama before losing to Illinois 65-63 in the Quarterfinals.^[4] Greene’s Racers would reach the NIT twice more before he left in 1985. His overall record at Murray was 119-78. While at the Racer helm, Greene coached Racer greats, such as Gary Hooker and Lamont Sleets.^[5]

Indiana State University

Greene returned to his native Terre Haute in 1985 when he became head coach of the Indiana State Sycamores. Greene inherited a young team and finished 11–17 in his first season as head coach.^[6] The team, however never matched this success and Greene resigned after a 4–24 1988–89 season. His overall record at ISU was 31–79.^[7]

One of Ron’s players was Eddie Bird, brother of NBA legend Larry Bird.^[8]

Later career

Greene was head coach of the Nashville Stars during the 1991 WBL season. The Stars went 23-28 in their first and only season of existence.^[9] He resigned in July 1991 to become the 12th head coach at Calloway County High School.^[10] His tenure at Calloway County started rough, including a 16 game losing streak in his first season. Greene posted a few good seasons for the Lakers including a 23-6 season as well as two 17-9 seasons, spending 8 years at Calloway.^[11] He resigned following the 1999 season and former Murray State and Western Kentucky player Terry Birdsong took over.^[12] He returned to coaching in 2007 when he was named head coach of the ABA’s Kentucky Retros.^[13] In 2008 Greene was named head coach at Murray High School. He retired after the 2010–11 season.^[14] Greene has coached all three schools in Calloway County, Kentucky.

References