Bob King, known as the “Architect of Lobo Basketball,” passed away this morning at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Albuquerque. He was 81. King was born Aug. 24, 1923, in Gravity, Iowa. He is survived by his wife, Sharel, plus four sons (Gary, Larry, Brad and Randy) and two daughters (Cris and Dianne).
Services will be held Wednesday, Dec. 15, at 11 a.m. at The Pit. The services are open to the public. Burial will be at the Santa Fe National Cemetery at a time and date to be announced.
The University will observe a moment of silence for King before tonight’s women’s basketball game against Bowling Green and again Sunday afternoon prior to the men’s game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
King came to the University of New Mexico prior to the 1962-63 academic year after serving three seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Iowa. He compiled an overall mark of 175-89 at UNM, and never had a losing record in 10 seasons. Before King’s arrival, the Lobos had endured eight straight losing seasons. He remains the second-winningest coach in school history.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the King family during this difficult time,” said current UNM head coach Ritchie McKay, whose father, Joe, played for King as a senior in 1962-63. “We’re very mindful of coach King’s legacy. I’m one of the proud benefactors of the values and principles he instilled, and the impact he made on his players and peers.”
King led UNM to a pair of Western Athletic Conference titles in 1964 and ‘68. The Lobos made three NIT appearances, including the finals in 1964, and the school’s first NCAA Tournament in 1968. King produced 10 all-WAC performers and two All-Americans in Mel Daniels and Ron Nelson.
“More than 40 years ago, Bob King had a vision for the University of New Mexico,” said UNM director of athletics Rudy Davalos. “And, it’s a vision that all Lobo fans have to this day. The success the basketball programs have enjoyed - both men’s and women’s - is a direct result of the foundation he laid for future coaches and players. I really enjoyed my association with Bob and his family over the past 12 years. He was a classy gentlemen who will be missed by many people, but never forgotten.”
Arguably, King’s biggest accomplishment was the building of University Arena, or The Pit as it’s widely known, after UNM began winning under his auspices. Playing at 7,000-seat Johnson Gym when King arrived on campus, UNM’s attendance doubled in his first three years. School officials knew a bigger arena was needed.
The Pit opened on Dec. 1, 1966, when the Lobos beat Abilene Christian. Original seating capacity was 14,831, which made The Pit one of the largest collegiate arenas in the country at that time. The cost was an incredibly economical $1.4 million.
Arena expansion was undertaken when it became apparent that fan interest was too great even for the original structure. The new mezzanine expansion in 1975 added 2,300 seats at a cost of $2.2 million. Reserved standing-room-only spots increase The Pit’s capacity to 18,018, which it remains to this day.
On October 2, 1992, University of New Mexico President Richard E. Peck announced that the court at University Arena would be named in honor of Bob King. The Bob King Court was dedicated at formal ceremonies on Dec. 1, 1992.
"We wanted to recognize Coach King’s contributions to Lobo basketball," Peck said at the time. "UNM’s Memorial Committee recommended that we honor Coach King’s accomplishments, and the naming of the court has allowed us to do so without diminishing the recognition which has already been paid to his colleagues, including former Director of Athletics Pete McDavid. The Bob King Court and the Pete McDavid Lounge are a tribute to two of the men who are responsible for the success of the facility we fondly call The Pit."
Since The Pit opened 38 years ago, New Mexico has finished in the top-15 in the nation in average attendance every year. The Lobo men’s team has drawn 10,612,604 fans for 675 games, an average of 15,722 a game. The men have an all-time record of 543-132.
“I always felt to follow in the shadow and footsteps of Bob (King) and Norm (Ellenberger) was a privilege for me coming from a smaller school like Pepperdine,” said Gary Colson, UNM’s head coach for eight seasons from 1980-88. “It was a real streak of luck that I got to the University of New Mexico. My deepest regrets to the King family. He was a great coach and a great man.”
King was also responsible for the creation of the Lobo Invitational, UNM’s post-Christmas tournament now in its 39th year and the fifth-oldest regular season tournament in the nation.
New Mexico’s annual Most Valuable Player award is also named in his honor, the Bob King MVP Award for men’s basketball.
One of the most recognized venues in all of sports, The Pit in 1999 was recognized by Sports Illustrated as one of the top-20 sporting venues of the 20th century. The University of New Mexico has played host to the NCAA men’s basketball tournament eight times, including the 1983 Final Four, and the women’s tournament the past two years. UNM will host the 2005 Albuquerque Regional for the men and the 2006 Women’s West Regional.
“I was very sad to learn of coach Bob King’s passing today,” said New Mexico State head coach Lou Henson. “We have lost a dear friend and a tremendous basketball coach. I followed Bob’s teams for many years and of course we played against his teams when I was at New Mexico State. Bob King is the one that really brought big-time basketball to the State of New Mexico. He was such a classy individual and a great person. Our hearts go out to Sharel and the King family.”
Bob King’s Record at New Mexico
Year...WAC...All (Finish)...Postseason
1962-63...4-6...16-9 (4th)
1963-64...7-3...23-6 (T1st)...NIT Championship Game
1964-65...5-5...19-8 (T2nd)...NIT
1965-66...4-6...16-8 (5th)
1966-67...5-5...19-8 (T3rd)...NIT
1967-68...8-2...23-5 (1st)...NCAA
1968-69...4-6...17-9 (T5th)
1969-70...7-7...13-13 (T5th)
1970-71...4-10...14-12 (7th)
1971-72...7-7...15-11 (T4th)
King was also head coach at Indiana State for three seasons from
1975-78, compiling a 61-24 record. His overall career mark was 236-113 (.676) in 13 years as a head coach.
BOB KING (1923-2004)
AS AN ATHLETE
• All-State basketball player at Gravity (Iowa) High School
• A member of the University of Iowa’s freshman team and graduated from Iowa in three years
EDUCATION
• Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from the University of Iowa in 1947
• Master’s degree in Educational Guidance and Psychology from Drake University in 1957
AS A COACH
• 205-75 record in 12 years at Britt and Algona HS in Iowa, and West High in Rockford, Ill.
• Assistant coach at Iowa (1959-62) under Sharm Scheuerman
AS AN ADMINISTRATOR
• Assistant Athletics Director at University of New Mexico (1972-73)
• Athletics Director at Indiana State University (1974-80)…the Sycamores and Larry Bird advanced to the NCAA Championship in 1979 before losing to Michigan State in the finals…during his tenure, King elevated the Indiana State football program to Division I status, ISU gained admittance to the Missouri Valley Conference and interest and attendance improved at ISU basketball games
SPECIAL HONORS, CONTRIBUTIONS
• Officer in the Air Force (1943-46)
• Inducted into Albuquerque Sports Hall of Fame (1982)
• Inducted into UNM Athletic Hall of Honor (1987)
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to:
Lobo Legacy - Bob King Family Endowment
UNM Foundation
MSC07-4260
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131