Dec. 10, 2004
Bob King, known as the “Architect of Lobo Basketball,” passed away this morning at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Albuquerque. He was 81. The University will observe a moment of silence for King before tonight’s women’s basketball game against Bowling Green and again Sunday afternoon prior to the men’s game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Please click here if you would like to send a note to the King family.
Services for Bob King will be held Wednesday, Dec. 15, at 11 a.m. at The Pit. Friends may visit The Pit Wednesday from 9-10:30 a.m., for viewing. The services are open to the public. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to:
Lobo Legacy – Bob King Family Endowment
UNM Foundation
MSC07-4260
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131
Burial will be at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe at a time and date TBA.
King came to the University of New Mexico prior to the 1962-63 academic year after serving three seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Iowa. He compiled an overall mark of 175-89 at UNM, and never had a losing record in 10 seasons. Before King’s arrival, the Lobos had endured eight straight losing seasons. He remains the second-winningest coach in school history.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the King family during this difficult time,” said current UNM head coach Ritchie McKay, whose father, Joe, played for King as a senior in 1962-63. “We’re very mindful of coach King’s legacy. I’m one of the proud benefactors of the values and principles he instilled, and the impact he made on his players and peers.”
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“Our thoughts and prayers are with the King family during this difficult time. We’re very mindful of coach King’s legacy. I’m one of the proud benefactors of the values and principles he instilled, and the impact he made on his players and peers.” |
King led UNM to a pair of Western Athletic Conference titles in 1964 and `68. The Lobos made three NIT appearances, including the finals in 1964, and the school’s first NCAA Tournament in 1968. King produced 10 all-WAC performers and two All-Americans in Mel Daniels and Ron Nelson.
“More than 40 years ago, Bob King had a vision for the University of New Mexico,” said UNM director of athletics Rudy Davalos. “And, it’s a vision that all Lobo fans have to this day. The success the basketball programs have enjoyed – both men’s and women’s – is a direct result of the foundation he laid for future coaches and players. I really enjoyed my association with Bob and his family over the past 12 years. He was a classy gentlemen who will be missed by many people, but never forgotten.”
Arguably, King’s biggest accomplishment was the building of University Arena, or The Pit as it’s widely known, after UNM began winning under his auspices. Playing at 7,000-seat Johnson Gym when King arrived on campus, UNM’s attendance doubled in his first three years. School officials knew a bigger arena was needed.
The Pit opened on Dec. 1, 1966, when the Lobos beat Abilene Christian. Original seating capacity was 14,831, which made The Pit one of the largest collegiate arenas in the country at that time. The cost was an incredibly economical $1.4 million.
The floor at The Pit is known as “Bob King Court.” |
Arena expansion was undertaken when it became apparent that fan interest was too great even for the original structure. The new mezzanine expansion in 1975 added 2,300 seats at a cost of $2.2 million. Reserved standing-room-only spots increase The Pit’s capacity to 18,018, which it remains to this day.
On October 2, 1992, University of New Mexico President Richard E. Peck announced that the court at University Arena would be named in honor of Bob King. The Bob King Court was dedicated at formal ceremonies on Dec. 1, 1992.
“We wanted to recognize Coach King’s contributions to Lobo basketball,” Peck said at the time. “UNM’s Memorial Committee recommended that we honor Coach King’s accomplishments, and the naming of the court has allowed us to do so without diminishing the recognition which has already been paid to his colleagues, including former Director of Athletics Pete McDavid. The Bob King Court and the Pete McDavid Lounge are a tribute to two of the men who are responsible for the success of the facility we fondly call The Pit.”
Since The Pit opened 38 years ago, New Mexico has finished in the top-15 in the nation in average attendance every year. The Lobo men’s team has drawn 10,612,604 fans for 675 games, an average of 15,722 a game. The men have an all-time record of 543-132.
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“More than 40 years ago, Bob King had a vision for the University of New Mexico, and it’s a vision that all Lobo fans have to this day. The success the basketball programs have enjoyed – both men’s and women’s – is a direct result of the foundation he laid for future coaches and players. I really enjoyed my association with Bob and his family over the past 12 years. He was a classy gentlemen who will be missed by many people, but never forgotten.” |
“I always felt to follow in the shadow and footsteps of Bob (King) and Norm (Ellenberger) was a privilege for me coming from a smaller school like Pepperdine,” said Gary Colson, UNM’s head coach for eight seasons from 1980-88. “It was a real streak of luck that I got to the University of New Mexico. My deepest regrets to the King family. He was a great coach and a great man.”
King was also responsible for the creation of the Lobo Invitational, UNM’s post-Christmas tournament now in its 39th year and the fifth-oldest regular season tournament in the nation.
New Mexico’s annual Most Valuable Player award is also named in his honor, the Bob King MVP Award for men’s basketball.
One of the most recognized venues in all of sports, The Pit in 1999 was recognized by Sports Illustrated as one of the top-20 sporting venues of the 20th century. The University of New Mexico has played host to the NCAA men’s basketball tournament eight times, including the 1983 Final Four, and the women’s tournament the past two years. UNM will host the 2005 Albuquerque Regional for the men and the 2006 Women’s West Regional.
“The State of New Mexico as well as the nation has lost one of the finest basketball minds to ever coach the game,” said New Mexico State head coach Lou Henson. “Bob King was the guiding force that brought the University of New Mexico basketball program into national prominence. His contributions to the State of New Mexico are immeasurable. On a personal note, I had deep admiration and respect for him as a wonderful and warm human being. I will always treasure our rivalry, but much more so our friendship. Mary and I extend heartfelt condolences to Sharel and the
entire King family.”
Bob King was born Aug. 24, 1923, in Gravity, Iowa. He is survived by his wife, Sharel, plus four sons (Gary, Larry, Brad and Randy) and two daughters (Cris and Dianne).
King was also head coach at Indiana State for three seasons from 1975-78, compiling a 61-24 record. That makes his career mark 236-113 in 13 years as a head coach.
Bob King’s Record at New Mexico
| Year | WAC | All | Place | Postseason |
| 1962-63 | 4-6 | 16-9 | 4th | |
| 1963-64 | 7-3 | 23-6 | T1st | NIT Championship Game |
| 1964-65 | 5-5 | 19-8 | T2nd | NIT |
| 1965-66 | 4-6 | 16-8 | 5th | |
| 1966-67 | 5-5 | 19-8 | T3rd | NIT |
| 1967-68 | 8-2 | 23-5 | 1st | NCAA |
| 1968-69 | 4-6 | 17-9 | T5th | |
| 1969-70 | 7-7 | 13-13 | T5th | |
| 1970-71 | 4-10 | 14-12 | 7th | |
| 1971-72 | 7-7 | 15-11 | T4th |
BOB KING (1923-2004)
AS AN ATHLETE
All-State basketball player at Gravity (Iowa) High School
A member of the University of Iowa’s freshman team and graduated from Iowa in three years
EDUCATION
Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from the University of Iowa in 1947
Master’s degree in Educational Guidance and Psychology from Drake University in 1957
AS A COACH
205-75 record in 12 years at Britt and Algona HS in Iowa, and West High in Rockford, Ill.
Assistant coach at Iowa (1959-62) under Sharm Scheuerman
AS AN ADMINISTRATOR
Assistant Athletics Director at University of New Mexico (1972-73)
Athletics Director at Indiana State University (1974-80)…the Sycamores and Larry Bird advanced to the NCAA Championship in 1979 before losing to Michigan State in the finals…during his tenure, King elevated the Indiana State football program to Division I status, ISU gained admittance to the Missouri Valley Conference and interest and attendance improved at ISU basketball games
SPECIAL HONORS, CONTRIBUTIONS
Officer in the Air Force (1943-46)
Inducted into Albuquerque Sports Hall of Fame (1982)
Inducted into UNM Athletic Hall of Honor (1987)