Bob Vanatta (July 7, 1918 – October 22, 2016) was an American basketball coach and college athletics administrator. He was the head basketball coach for Central Methodist, Missouri State University, Army, Bradley, Memphis State, Missouri, and Delta State University. At Missouri State, he won the 1952 and 1953 NAIA Championships. He compiled a 109-34 record at Memphis State, including making it to the 1957 NIT Championship game. After coaching, 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. He was a Palm Beach County Sports Commission member, which presents the Lou Groza Award to the nation's top placekicker.

Bob Vanatta
Bob Vanatta from The Savitar, 1963
Biographical details
Born(1918-07-07)July 7, 1918
Columbia, Missouri, U.S.
DiedOctober 22, 2016(2016-10-22) (aged 98)
Jupiter, Florida, U.S.
Playing career
1943–1945Central (MO)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1947–1950Central (MO)
1950–1953SW Missouri State
1953–1954Army
1954–1956Bradley
1956–1962Memphis State
1962–1967Missouri
1972–1973Delta State
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1956Bradley
1973–1976Oral Roberts
1976–1979Ohio Valley Conference (comm.)
1979–1983Trans America Athletic Conference (comm.)
1983–1986Louisiana Tech
1986–1994Sunshine State Conference (comm.)
1997–1999Florida Atlantic (assoc. AD)
Head coaching record
Overall333–200
Tournaments2–2 (NCAA)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
NAIA champion (1952, 1953)

Vanatta died October 22, 2016, aged 98, in Melbourne, Florida.[1]

Head coaching record

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Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Central Eagles (Independent) (1947–1950)
Central: 61–20 (.753)
Southwest Missouri State Bears (Mid–America Intercollegiate Athletics Association) (1950–1953)
1950–51 Southwest Missouri State 22–3 7–3 2nd
1951–52 Southwest Missouri State 27–5 10–0 1st NAIA Champions
1952–53 Southwest Missouri State 24–4 8–2 1st NAIA Champions
Southwest Missouri State: 73–12 (.857) 25–5 (.833)
Army Cadets (Independent) (1953–1954)
1953–54 Army 15–7
Army: 15–7 (.682)
Bradley Braves (Independent) (1954–1955)
1954–55 Bradley 9–20 NCAA Elite Eight
Bradley Braves (Missouri Valley Conference) (1955–1956)
1955–56 Bradley 13–13
Bradley: 22–33 (.400)
Memphis State Tigers (Independent) (1956–1962)
1956–57 Memphis State 24–6 NIT Finals
1957–58 Memphis State 15–7
1958–59 Memphis State 17–6
1959–60 Memphis State 18–5 NIT First Round
1960–61 Memphis State 20–3 NIT Quarterfinals
1961–62 Memphis State 15–7 NCAA first round
Memphis State: 109–34 (.762)
Missouri Tigers (Big Eight Conference) (1962–1967)
1962–63 Missouri 10–15 5–9 T–6th
1963–64 Missouri 13–11 7–7 T–4th
1964–65 Missouri 13–11 8–6 T–3rd
1965–66 Missouri 3–21 1–13 8th
1966–67 Missouri 3–22 1–13 8th
Missouri: 42–80 (.344) 22–48 (.314)
Delta State Statesmen (Gulf States Conference) (1972–1973)
1972–73 Delta State 11–14 4–10
Delta State: 11–14 (.440) 4–10 (.286)
Total: 333–200 (.625)

      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

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  1. ^ Stukenborg, Phil (October 22, 2016). "Ex-Tiger basketball coach Bob Vanatta dies at 98". commercialappeal.com. Retrieved October 23, 2016.