Cal Luther
{{Short description|American basketball player-coach (1927–2021)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox college coach
| name = Cal Luther
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1927|10|23}}
| birth_place = Valdosta, Georgia, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|05|08|1927|10|23}}
| death_place = Dresden, Tennessee, U.S.
| alma_mater =
| player_years1 = 1949–1951
| player_team1 = Valparaiso
| player_positions = Guard
| coach_years1 = 1951–1954
| coach_team1 = Illinois (freshmen)
| coach_years2 = 1954–1958
| coach_team2 = DePauw
| coach_years3 = 1958–1974
| coach_team3 = Murray State
| coach_years4 = 1981–1990
| coach_team4 = Longwood
| coach_years5 = 1990–1999
| coach_team5 = UT Martin
| coach_years6 = 1999–2000
| coach_team6 = Bethel (TN)
| admin_years1 = 1967–1977
| admin_team1 = Murray State
| overall_record = 500–489–1
| bowl_record =
| tournament_record =
| championships = ICC (1957)
2 OVC (1964, 1969)
| awards = 3× OVC Coach of the Year (1964, 1969, 1996)
Mason-Dixon Conference Coach of the Year (1988)
| coaching_records =
}}
Calvin Charles Luther (October 23, 1927{{cite news |title=Men's Basketball Coaches Career |url=http://web1.ncaa.org/stats/StatsSrv/careercoach |work=NCAA |accessdate=2010-05-11 }} – May 8, 2021) was an American men's college basketball coach. He was the head coach at DePauw, Murray State, Longwood, UT Martin, and Bethel College. He was also head coach of the Egyptian national team.{{cite news| url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SL&p_theme=sl&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB04CB790552460&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM | date=June 3, 1990 | title=Small Colleges Lend The Stuff Of Dreams | work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch}}
Early life
Born in Valdosta, Georgia,{{cite news |title=Murray Names Luther |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3wYdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IkcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4023,368126&dq |work=Park City Daily News |date=March 5, 1958 |accessdate=2010-03-19 }} Luther was an All-state football and basketball player at Bay View High School in Milwaukee.{{cite news |title=Murray Names Luther |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3wYdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IkcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4023,368126&dq |work=Park City Daily News |date=March 5, 1958 |accessdate=2010-03-19 }}{{cite news |author=Bill Letwin |title=North Plays West for Lead Friday; South Milwaukee Faces Bay Squad |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=60UaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MCMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4452,368020&dq |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711010653/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=60UaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MCMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4452,368020&dq |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 11, 2012 |work=The Milwaukee Journal |date=December 16, 1945 |accessdate=2010-03-19 }} He played college basketball at Valparaiso from 1949 to 1951. He spent two years as a member of the 82nd Airborne Division and was a member of Fort Benning's basketball and championship-winning football teams.{{cite news |title=Murray Names Luther |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3wYdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IkcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4023,368126&dq |work=Park City Daily News |date=March 5, 1958 |accessdate=2010-03-19 }}
Luther's coaching career began at the University of Illinois, where he spent three seasons as the freshman basketball while obtaining his master's degree.{{cite news |title=Murray Names Luther |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3wYdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IkcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4023,368126&dq |work=Park City Daily News |date=March 5, 1958 |accessdate=2010-03-19 }}
DePauw
Luther became DePauw University's head coach in 1954. In his first season as head coach, he coached DePauw to a rare tie against Wabash. DePauw defeated Wabash 67-66, however the coaches of both teams decided the game should be recorded as a tie due to a scorers error.{{cite web | url=http://www.newspaperarchive.com/LandingPage.aspx?type=glpnews&search=wabash%20depauw%20tie&img=8675478 | title=NewspaperArchive® |.aspx historic newspaper articles including obituaries, births, marriages, divorces and arrests }} In four seasons with the Tigers, Luther had a 45-40-1 record; including the 1956-57 ICC Championship and a berth in the inaugural NCAA College Division Tourney.{{Cite web |url=http://www.depauw.edu/ath/mbasket/history/yrbyyr%20records.asp |title=DePauw University Intercollegiate Athletics |access-date=2008-08-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060922145426/http://www.depauw.edu/ath/mbasket/history/yrbyyr%20records.asp |archive-date=2006-09-22 |url-status=dead }}
He coached two of DePauw's 1,000 point scorers (#6 Bob Schrier - 1,415 and #22 John Bunnell 1,004)
Murray State
In 1958, Luther became Murray State's seventh head basketball coach. In his sixteen seasons at MSU, Luther's Racers had a 241–134 record and made the NCAA tournament twice.{{cite web |url=http://racerhistory.com/index.htm |title=Murray State Racers basketball history |accessdate=2008-01-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080203091323/http://racerhistory.com/index.htm |archive-date=2008-02-03 }} He was also Murray State's Athletic Director.{{cite news| url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/967832502.html?dids=967832502:967832502&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&date=Nov+30%2C+1977&author=&pub=The+Hartford+Courant&desc=Cal+Luther+Resigns+As+Murray+State+A.D.&pqatl=google | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525035915/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/967832502.html?dids=967832502:967832502&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&date=Nov+30,+1977&author=&pub=The+Hartford+Courant&desc=Cal+Luther+Resigns+As+Murray+State+A.D.&pqatl=google | url-status=dead | archive-date=May 25, 2011 | work=The Hartford Courant | title=Cal Luther Resigns As Murray State A.D | date=November 30, 1977}} He was named OVC Coach of the Year in 1964 and 1969. In 1971, the Minnesota Golden Gophers hired Luther to coach the men's basketball team, but he changed his mind and turned the team down after accepting the position.{{cite book | last = Hartman | first = Sid | author-link = Sid Hartman | author2 = Joel Rippel | title = Sid Hartman's Great Minnesota Sports Moments | publisher = Voyageur Press | year = 2006 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/sidhartmansgreat0000hart/page/31 31] | url = https://archive.org/details/sidhartmansgreat0000hart/page/31 | isbn = 0-7603-2656-8 | url-access = registration }} He stepped down as head coach in 1974 to become the school's full-time athletic director.{{cite news |title=Sports in Brief |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Cj81AAAAIBAJ&pg=PA25&dq |access-date=14 June 2024 |work=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |date=March 25, 1974}} He resigned as AD in 1977 at the behest of the university president, Dr. Constantine W. Curris.{{cite news |title=Cal Luther steps down from Murray AD post |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TckaAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA12&dq |access-date=14 June 2024 |work=Daily News |date=November 30, 1977}}
Longwood
Luther spent nine seasons as the head coach of Division II Longwood University, where he was selected Mason-Dixon Conference and Kodak Division II South District coach of the year in 1988. One of his players, Jerome Kersey, would be drafted in the second round of the 1984 NBA draft. His overall record at Longwood was 136–105.{{cite book | title = Banner Years | publisher = Acclaim Press | year = 2013 | pages = 147 | isbn = 978-1-938905-35-3}}
Egypt
Luther was the coach of the Egyptian national basketball team in 1990. Egypt finished 16th out of 16 teams in the 1990 FIBA World Championship.
Tennessee-Martin
Luther coached Tennessee-Martin from 1990-1999. There he compiled a 72–163 record. His 319 total victories while a coach in the OVC ranks first all-time in league history. Luther was named OVC Coach of the Year in 1996, making him the only coach to win Coach of the Year honors at two different OVC institutions.{{cite web |url=http://www.collegehoopsnet.com/ovc/history.htm |title=CollegeHoopsnet.com - OVC History |accessdate=2010-05-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927114930/http://www.collegehoopsnet.com/ovc/history.htm |archive-date=2011-09-27 }} After leaving UT Martin, Luther spent one season as the coach of Bethel College before retiring.
Death
Luther died on May 8, 2021, at Hillview Nursing Center in Dresden, TN. His was married to Linda Wren Luther.{{cite news|title= Former Men's Basketball Head Coach Cal Luther Passes Away at 93 |url= https://longwoodlancers.com/news/2021/5/8/former-mens-basketball-head-coach-cal-luther-passes-away-at-93.aspx |date=March 8, 2021|access-date=May 9, 2021|work=longwoodlancers.com}}
Head coaching record
{{CBB Yearly Record Start | type = | conference = | postseason = | poll = }}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = DePauw Tigers
| conference = Indiana Collegiate Conference
| startyear = 1954
| endyear = 1958
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1954–55
| name = DePauw
| overall = 8–11–1
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1955–56
| name = DePauw
| overall = 13–8
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1956–57
| name = DePauw
| overall = 12–9
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1957–58
| name = DePauw
| overall = 12–12
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = DePauw
| overall = 45–40–1 ({{winpct|45|40}})
| confrecord =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Murray State Racers
| conference = Ohio Valley Conference
| startyear = 1958
| endyear = 1974
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1958–59
| name = Murray State
| overall = 10–15
| conference = 3–9
| confstanding = 7th
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1959–60
| name = Murray State
| overall = 12–11
| conference = 7–4
| confstanding = 3rd
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1960–61
| name = Murray State
| overall = 13–10
| conference = 7–5
| confstanding = 4th
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1961–62
| name = Murray State
| overall = 13–12
| conference = 5–7
| confstanding = 5th
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1962–63
| name = Murray State
| overall = 13–9
| conference = 6–6
| confstanding = 4th
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = confboth
| season = 1963–64
| name = Murray State
| overall = 16–9
| conference = 11–3
| confstanding = 1st
| postseason = NCAA University Division Round of 25
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1964–65
| name = Murray State
| overall = 19–7
| conference = 9–5
| confstanding = 3rd
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1965–66
| name = Murray State
| overall = 13–12
| conference = 8–6
| confstanding = 3rd
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1966–67
| name = Murray State
| overall = 14–9
| conference = 8–6
| confstanding = 2nd
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| season = 1967–68
| name = Murray State
| overall = 16–8
| conference = 10–4
| confstanding = T–1st
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| season = 1968–69
| name = Murray State
| overall = 22–6
| conference = 11–3
| confstanding = T–1st
| postseason = NCAA University Division Round of 25
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1969–70
| name = Murray State
| overall = 17–9
| conference = 9–5
| confstanding = 2nd
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1970–71
| name = Murray State
| overall = 19–5
| conference = 10–4
| confstanding = 2nd
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1971–72
| name = Murray State
| overall = 15–11
| conference = 6–8
| confstanding = 5th
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1972–73
| name = Murray State
| overall = 17–8
| conference = 9–5
| confstanding = 2nd
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1973–74
| name = Murray State
| overall = 12–13
| conference = 6–8
| confstanding = 5th
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1974–75
| name = Murray State
| overall = 10–15
| conference = 3–11
| confstanding = 7th
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Murray State
| overall = 241–154 ({{winpct|241|154}})
| confrecord = 125–88 ({{winpct|125|88}})
}}
{{CBB yearly record subhead
| name = Longwood
| conference= NCAA Division II independent
| startyear = 1981
| endyear = 1983
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| season = 1981–82
| name = Longwood
| overall = 15–8
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| season = 1982–83
| name = Longwood
| overall = 15–10
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record subhead
| name = Longwood Lancers
| conference= Mason–Dixon Conference
| startyear = 1983
| endyear = 1988
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| season = 1983–84
| name = Longwood
| overall = 15–12
| conference = 7–3
| confstanding = 2nd
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| season = 1984–85
| name = Longwood
| overall = 11–17
| conference = 3–7
| confstanding = 4th
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| season = 1985–86
| name = Longwood
| overall = 14–13
| conference = 7–3
| confstanding = 2nd
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| season = 1986–87
| name = Longwood
| overall = 13–14
| conference = 3–5
| confstanding = 3rd
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship = conference
| season = 1987–88
| name = Longwood
| overall = 19–10
| conference = 6–2
| confstanding = T–1st
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record subhead
| name = Longwood Lancers
| conference= NCAA Division II independent
| startyear = 1988
| endyear = 1990
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| season = 1988–89
| name = Longwood
| overall = 20–7
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| season = 1989–90
| name = Longwood
| overall = 14–14
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record subtotal
| name = Longwood
| overall = 136–105 ({{Winning percentage|136|105}})
| confrecord = 26–20 ({{Winning percentage|26|20}})
}}
{{CBB yearly record subhead
| name = UT Martin
| conference= Gulf South Conference
| startyear = 1990
| endyear = 1991
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| season = 1990–91
| name = UT Martin
| overall = 5–15
| conference = 2–14
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record subhead
| name = UT Martin
| conference= Ohio Valley Conference
| startyear = 1991
| endyear = 1999
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| season = 1991–92
| name = UT Martin
| overall = 9–19
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| season = 1992–93
| name = UT Martin
| overall = 7–19
| conference = 4–12
| confstanding = T–8th
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| season = 1993–94
| name = UT Martin
| overall = 5–22
| conference = 3–13
| confstanding = 9th
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| season = 1994–95
| name = UT Martin
| overall = 7–20
| conference = 5–11
| confstanding = 9th
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| season = 1995–96
| name = UT Martin
| overall = 13–14
| conference = 9–7
| confstanding = T–4th
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| season = 1996–97
| name = UT Martin
| overall = 11–16
| conference = 8–10
| confstanding = 7th
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| season = 1997–98
| name = UT Martin
| overall = 7–20
| conference = 5–13
| confstanding = T–8th
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| season = 1998–99
| name = UT Martin
| overall = 8–18
| conference = 5–13
| confstanding = 9th
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = UT Martin
| overall = 72–163 ({{winpct|72|163}})
| confrecord = 39–79 ({{winpct|39|79}})
}}
{{CBB yearly record subhead
| name = Bethel Wildcats
| conference= Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
| startyear = 1999
| endyear = 2000
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| season = 1999–00
| name = Bethel
| overall = 6–27
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Bethel
| overall = 6–27 ({{winpct|6|27}})
| confrecord =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record End
| overall = 500–489–1 ({{winpct|500|489}})
}}
[http://racerhistory.com Racerhistory.com]
Longwood Lancers men's basketball{{Circular reference|date=May 2017}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{navboxes|list=
{{Murray State Racers men's basketball coach navbox}}
{{Murray State Racers athletic directors navbox}}
{{Longwood Lancers men's basketball coach navbox}}
{{UT Martin Skyhawks men's basketball coach navbox}}
{{Ohio Valley Conference Men's Basketball Coach of the Year navbox}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Luther, Cal}}
Category:American men's basketball coaches
Category:American men's basketball players
Category:Basketball coaches from Georgia (U.S. state)
Category:Basketball players from Georgia (U.S. state)
Category:Bay View High School alumni
Category:Bethel Wildcats men's basketball coaches
Category:DePauw Tigers men's basketball coaches
Category:Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball coaches
Category:Longwood Lancers men's basketball coaches
Category:Military personnel from Georgia (U.S. state)
Category:Murray State Racers athletic directors
Category:Murray State Racers men's basketball coaches
Category:Sportspeople from Valdosta, Georgia
Category:UT Martin Skyhawks men's basketball coaches