Harlan Hodges

Harlan Crews Hodges (November 11, 1902 – June 6, 1994) was an American college basketball coach and educator. He was the head coach at Murray State (1948–54) and Idaho (1954–59), then became a high school administrator.

Harlan Hodges
Biographical details
Born(1902-11-11)November 11, 1902
DiedJune 6, 1994(1994-06-06) (aged 91)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1947Southern Illinois (assistant)
Basketball
1933–1945West Frankfort HS
1946–1947Missouri Mines
1947–1948Southern Illinois (assistant)
1948–1954Murray State
1954–1959Idaho
Head coaching record
Overall171–152 (college basketball)

Early career

Hodges' coaching career began at West Frankfort High School in West Frankfort, Illinois. In his 12 seasons at WFHS, Hodges' Redbirds won their regional tournament three times, their sectional tournament twice, and made it to the state championship four times. He spent one season as the head basketball and track coach at the Missouri School of Mines before returning to his alma mater, Southern Illinois as an assistant basketball and football coach.[1][2]

Murray State

Hodges was hired at Murray State College in Murray, Kentucky, in the spring of 1948.[1] His 1950–51 and 1951–52 teams finished the year ranked No. 16 in the years' end AP poll. His teams twice made the NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament and was runner up in 1952.[3] Two of Hodges' players at Murray State, Bennie Purcell and Garrett Beshear, received All-American honors.[2] His overall record at Murray State was 109–66 (.623).

Idaho

In May 1954, Hodges became head coach at the University of Idaho in the Pacific Coast Conference,[2][4] replacing Chuck Finley, who departed after seven seasons for Mississippi Southern.[5] His starting salary was $7,320,[6] and in his five years in Moscow, Hodges had a 52–77 (.403) record with the Vandals and no tournament appearances. His best season was his fourth in 1957–58, when they were 17–9 (.654) and finished fourth in the PCC at 9–7.[7] He resigned in late April 1959 to become a high school superintendent in Anna, Illinois.[8][9]

After coaching

After Idaho, Hodges was superintendent at Anna-Jonesboro Community High School for five years, then returned to Murray State to teach in 1964, and retired in 1973. He died in 1994 at age 91.[10]

Head coaching record

College basketball
Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Missouri Mines Miners (Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association) (1947–1948)
1947–48 Missouri Mines 10–93–7
Missouri Mines: 10–93–7
Murray State Racers (Ohio Valley Conference) (1948–1954)
1948–49 Murray State 13–124–56th
1949–50 Murray State 18–135–75thNAIA First Round
1950–51 Murray State 21–69–31st
1951–52 Murray State 24–109–33rdNAIA Runner-up
1952–53 Murray State 18–97–33rd
1953–54 Murray State 15–166–42nd
Murray State: 109–6640–25
Idaho Vandals (Pacific Coast Conference) (1954–1959)
1954–55 Idaho 8–185–115th (North)
1955–56 Idaho 6–194–128th
1956–57 Idaho 10–164–127th
1957–58 Idaho 17–99–74th
1958–59 Idaho 11–156–107th
Idaho: 52–7728–52
Total:171–152

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References
  1. "Murray names new net coach". Kentucky New Era. Hopkinsville, KY. Associated Press. April 1, 1948. p. 11.
  2. "Idaho names Harlan Hodges as new cage coach". Spokane Daily Chronicle. May 8, 1954. p. 8.
  3. "The Coaches of Murray State". RacerHistory.com. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  4. "Hodges to coach Idaho basketball". Eugene Register-Guard. Associated Press. May 9, 1954. p. 1C.
  5. "Chuck Finley resigns as Idaho basketball boss". Spokane Daily Chronicle. March 29, 1954. p. 15.
  6. "Hodges to get $7320 salary". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Associated Press. May 21, 1954. p. 16.
  7. "Basketball". Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1958. pp. 145–157.
  8. "Hodges quits as Vandals' cage coach". Spokane Daily Chronicle. April 29, 1959. p. 21.
  9. "UI cage coach Harlan Hodges leaving to take Illinois post". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press. April 30, 1959. p. 11.
  10. "Harlan Hodges – Basketball Coach, 1948-1953 (Deceased)". Murray State University Athletics. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
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