Hall of Fame
Gene Bartow
Mules Basketball Coach 1961-64
One of the most respected names in college basketball, Bartow coached the Mules for three seasons before gaining national fame at NCAA Division I schools Valparaiso University, Memphis State University, the University of Illinois, the University of California-Los Angeles and the University of Alabama-Birmingham. He directed the Mules to records of 16-6, 17-6 and 14-9 in his three seasons at CMSU. Inaugural Hall of Fame inductee Bud Vallino was the star of Bartow's three teams.
The 47 victories Bartow amassed with the Mules are part of the total of 647 wins he recorded in 36 seasons as a head coach. His 1973 Memphis State team lost to powerful UCLA in the national championship game, then in 1976, he succeeded the legendary John Wooden at UCLA. He began the basketball program at Alabama-Birmingham in 1979 and coached the Blazers through the 1995-96 season before retiring from coaching to devote full-time to his current position as athletics director at UAB.
