Bob Vanatta, American college basketball coach, Died at 98

  Sports

Bob Vanatta was born on July 7, 1918, and died on October 22, 2016.

He was an American head basketball coach for Central Methodist, Missouri State University, Army, Bradley, Memphis State, Missouri, and Delta State University.

While he was at Missouri State, Bod won the 1952 and 1953 NAIA Championship. At Memphis State, he compiled a 109-34 record, including making it to the 1957 NIT Championship game.

Following his coaching career, 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.

Vanatta was a member of the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, which presents the Lou Groza Award to the nation’s top placekicker.

He died in Melbourne, Florida.

Bob Vanatta passed away at 98 years old.