Tates Locke
Taylor "Tates" Locke (born February 25, 1937) is an American professional basketball coach.
Locke coached the Buffalo Braves for half a season in 1976-77, before being replaced by Bob MacKinnon. Prior to his Buffalo experience, Locke coached for West Point, where he hired a young assistant coach named Bobby Knight. Knight would later replace Locke when Locke left West Point. After West Point, Locke moved on to Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, winning a MAC title in 1968-69. Locke would subsequently coach at Clemson University, but would be forced to resign as the result of an NCAA investigation into recruiting violations. The violation resulted in the Tigers being put on NCAA probation. He later coached at Jacksonville University and took them to an NCAA berth and NIT berth.
Locke would later become the head coach at Indiana State University and serve as a scout and assistant General Manager for the Portland Trail Blazers.
The movie Blue Chips, starring Nick Nolte, is said to be based on Locke's career. However, several midwestern college coaches claim to be the inspiration for the character.
References
- Locke, Tates and Ibach, B. (1982). Caught in the Net [autobiography]. Leisure Press. ISBN 0-88011-044-9