Former VU Men's Basketball Coach Gene Bartow Dead

[valporun]

I received a text from ESPN Alerts that former Valparaiso University Men's Basketball Coach Gene Bartow passed away at the age of 81. He was men's basketball coach from 1964-1970. He also coached at University of Illinois, UCLA (where he succeeded the great John Wooden), and at UAB. The story on ESPN doesn't mention that he was a head coach at Valpo, but he was a coach before we went D-I.

Here is the link I promised:

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/7421903/gene-bartow-former-ucla-bruins-uab-blazers-coach-dies-81

[VULB#62]

I was on campus during the first 2 years of Gene Bartow's stint at Valpo.  He did a marvelous job getting the program flying. With a small,  fast and scrappy  line-up ( as I recall: Tom Smith, Steve Cook, Rich Eynon, Vern Curtis and Ken Rakow - BTW Steve, Rich, Vern and Ken were fellow Phi Delts) they ran the floor and out-hustled bigger squads.  Those games were superb and it was fun to see scores of 100+.  More than that he was a fine gentleman.  He will be missed.

[vu72]

I remember those teams as well.  Tom Smith was the Erik Buggs of those teams and more than once had crowds ducking as it appeared that he was throwing the ball into the stands only to deliver a no look pass to a flying teamate.  Those were the days before the 3 point line and they still hold the team scoring records.

I took tennis and bowling from Gene in 1968 as I recall.  In those days coaches did all sorts of things to make a living!  A fine man who represented Valpo so well and put us on the map with college division NCAA trips (1966,1967 and 1969).  Also inducted into our Hall of Fame.

[Valpo71]

Coach Bartow was a fine, Christian gentleman and I am proud to have known him.  He and Homer truly represented the values of Valparaiso University.  He also started the UAB athletic program from scratch.