Ron Greene
{{Short description|American college basketball coach (1938–2021)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Cleanup bare URLs|date=August 2022}}
{{similar names|Ronald Green (disambiguation){{!}}Ronald Green}}
{{Infobox college coach
| name = Ron Greene
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1938|12|27}}
| birth_place = Terre Haute, Indiana, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|3|31|1938|12|27}}
| death_place = Murray, Kentucky, U.S.
| player_years1 = 1960–1962
| player_team1 = Murray State
| coach_years1 = 1965–1966
| coach_team1 = Loyola (LA) (assistant)
| coach_years2 = 1966–1968
| coach_team2 = Loyola (LA)
| coach_years3 = 1969–1977
| coach_team3 = New Orleans
| coach_years4 = 1977–1978
| coach_team4 = Mississippi State
| coach_years5 = 1978–1985
| coach_team5 = Murray State
| coach_years6 = 1985–1989
| coach_team6 = Indiana State
| coach_years7 = 1991
| coach_team7 = Nashville Stars
| coach_years8 = 1992–1999
| coach_team8 = Calloway County HS
| coach_years9 = 2007–2008
| coach_team9 = Kentucky Retros
| coach_years10 = 2008–2011
| coach_team10 = Murray HS
| overall_record = 339–258 (college)
| bowl_record =
| tournament_record =
| championships =
| awards = AP SEC Coach of the Year (1978)
2× OVC Coach of the Year (1980, 1983)
| coaching_records =
}}
Ronald L. Greene (December 27, 1938 – March 31, 2021) was an American basketball coach who served as head coach of three Division I college basketball teams, as well as teams in Division II, the World Basketball League, the American Basketball Association, and high school.
Early career
Born in Terre Haute, Indiana, Greene was a high school star for the legendary Howard Sharpe at Terre Haute's Gerstmeyer Tech High. He began his college career as a freshman member of the Bradley Braves; he subsequently transferred to Murray State, completing his eligibility under Head Coach Cal Luther. While at Murray, he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Physical Education and was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity.{{cite journal | title=The Shield Yearbook | journal=Murray State University Yearbooks | publisher=Murray State University | issue= | year=1962 | url=https://digitalcommons.murraystate.edu/yearbooks/47/ | access-date=December 10, 2021 | page=159}} His coaching career began in 1965 at Loyola University New Orleans where he was an assistant coach under Head Coach Bill Gardiner. The team went 9–17 in his only season as an assistant before being promoted to the head coach position. He spent two seasons as Head Coach before moving across town to assume control of the University of New Orleans program.
University of New Orleans
Greene was hired by UNO when the school began intercollegiate varsity competition in 1969–70 season. He compiled a 149–64 (.700) record in eight seasons; leading the Privateers to a #1 final ranking for the 1970–71 season and a #2 final ranking for the 1974–75 season. Four of his teams qualified for NCAA tournaments. The Privateers finished fourth in 1974 Division II tourney and second in the 1975 tourney. Greene paved the way for the Privateers’ move to Division I in the 1975–76 season.{{Cite web | url=http://www.unoprivateers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=16700&ATCLID=926036&SPID=10253&SPSID=86672 | title=Ron Greene| date=19 June 2007}}
Mississippi State University
Greene only spent the 1977–1978 season with the Bulldogs. That year, the Bulldogs finished with an 18–9 record.{{Cite web |url=http://www.goracers.com/pdf2/98826.pdf?ATCLID=1329861&SPID=2583&DB_OEM_ID=6700&SPSID=32202 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2008-01-29 |archive-date=2012-02-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208020011/http://www.goracers.com/pdf2/98826.pdf?ATCLID=1329861&SPID=2583&DB_OEM_ID=6700&SPSID=32202 |url-status=dead }} Several hours after The Associated Press had named him the Southeastern Conference basketball coach of the year and the Mississippi state board had voted him a $7,500 raise, Greene announced he was leaving the job to become coach of his alma mater Murray State.{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/03/17/archives/sports-news-briefs-kings-suit-says-nets-owe-25000-in-archibald-deal.html | work=The New York Times | title=Sports News Briefs; Kings' Suit Says Nets Owe $25,000 in Archibald Deal People in Sports | date=17 March 1978}}
Murray State University
After managing only 4 wins in his first season in Murray, Greene coached the Racers to 23 wins the following year and an appearance in the National Invitation Tournament. The Racers knocked off Jacksonville and Alabama before losing to Illinois 65–63 in the Quarterfinals.{{cite web |url=http://racerhistory.com/racerbkb1980.htm |title=Murray State basketball statistics |website=racerhistory.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080330215934/http://www.racerhistory.com/racerbkb1980.htm |archive-date=2008-03-30}} Greene's Racers would reach the NIT twice more before he left in 1985. His overall record at Murray was 119–78. While at the Racer helm, Greene coached Racer greats, such as Gary Hooker and Lamont Sleets.{{cite web |url=http://racerhistory.com/index.htm |title=Murray State Racers basketball history |access-date=2008-01-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080203091323/http://racerhistory.com/index.htm |archive-date=2008-02-03 }}
Indiana State University
Greene returned to his native Terre Haute in 1985 when he became head coach of the Indiana State Sycamores. Greene inherited a young team and finished 11–17 in his first season as head coach.{{cite news |title= Indiana State Gets Eddie Bird |archive-date=7 Oct 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007022428/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LH&s_site=kentucky&p_multi=LH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB738B1AD08CE31&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LH&s_site=kentucky&p_multi=LH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB738B1AD08CE31&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM | date=28 May 1986}} The team, however never matched this success and Greene resigned after an abysmal 4–24 record in the 1988–89 season. His overall record at ISU was 31–82.{{cite news| url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/66405823.html?dids=66405823:66405823&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Feb+22%2C+1989&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=In+Brief+Indiana+State%27s+Coach+Resigns&pqatl | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131184855/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/66405823.html?dids=66405823:66405823&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Feb+22,+1989&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=In+Brief+Indiana+State's+Coach+Resigns&pqatl | url-status=dead | archive-date=31 January 2013 | title=In Brief Indiana State's Coach Resigns | date=22 February 1989}}
One of his players was Eddie Bird, the younger brother of NBA player Larry Bird.http://www.sportsstats.com/jazzyj/greats/cba91/bird.htm
Later career
Greene was head coach of the Nashville Stars during the 1991 WBL season. The Stars went 23–28 in their first and only season of existence.{{cite web |url=http://members.aol.com/apbrhist/wbl88-92.html |title=World Basketball League |website=members.aol.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991111003943/http://members.aol.com/apbrhist/wbl88-92.html |archive-date=1999-11-11}} He resigned in July 1991 to become the 12th head coach at Calloway County High School.{{cite news| url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LH&s_site=kentucky&p_multi=LH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB73D5A9EF6D3C4&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM | date=19 July 1991| title=Google}} His tenure at Calloway County started rough, including a 16-game losing streak in his first season. Greene posted a few good seasons for the Lakers including a 23–6 season as well as two 17–9 seasons, spending 8 years at Calloway.{{cite news| url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LH&s_site=kentucky&p_multi=LH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB73DBC30D310BF&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM | date=14 February 1992| title=Google}} He resigned following the 1999 season and former Murray State and Western Kentucky player Terry Birdsong took over.{{cite news| url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LH&s_site=kentucky&p_multi=LH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB74224605076A6&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM | date=7 May 1999| title=Google}} He returned to coaching in 2007 when he was named head coach of the ABA’s Kentucky Retros.{{cite web |url=http://www.abalive.com/news/releases/?newsid=2007051506001 |title=ABAlive.com – Home of the American Basketball Association |website=www.abalive.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070518233741/http://abalive.com/news/releases/?newsid=2007051506001 |archive-date=2007-05-18}} In 2008 Greene was named head coach at Murray High School. He retired after the 2010–11 season.{{cite news|last=Dillard|first=Tommy|title=A legend leaves: Greene has no regrets as retirement approaches|url=http://murrayledger.com/sports/high_schools/a-legend-leaves-greene-has-no-regrets-as-retirement-approaches/article_ca5fbe62-5645-11e0-be4a-001cc4c002e0.html|access-date=5 April 2011|newspaper=Murray Ledger & Times|date=March 24, 2011}}
Greene died on March 31, 2021, in Murray, Kentucky, at age 82.{{cite news|url= https://goracers.com/news/2021/4/1/mens-basketball-racer-legend-coach-ron-greene-passes-at-age-82.aspx |title= Racer Legend Coach Ron Greene Passes At Age 82 |publisher=Murray State Racers|date=April 1, 2021|access-date=April 18, 2021}}
Head coaching record
{{CBB Yearly Record Start | type = | conference = | postseason = | poll = }}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Loyola (New Orleans) Wolf Pack
| conference = Independent
| startyear = 1966
| endyear = 1968
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1966–67
| name = Loyola (New Orleans)
| overall = 11–11
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1967–68
| name = Loyola (New Orleans)
| overall = 11–14
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Loyola (New Orleans)
| overall = 22–25
| confrecord = 0–0
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = New Orleans Privateers
| conference = Independent/Sun Belt Conference
| startyear = 1969
| endyear = 1977
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1969–70
| name = New Orleans
| overall = 18–5
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1970–71
| name = New Orleans
| overall = 23–3
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason = Division II South Regional
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1971–72
| name = New Orleans
| overall = 19–9
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason = Division II South Regional
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1972–73
| name = New Orleans
| overall = 9–13
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1973–74
| name = New Orleans
| overall = 21–9
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason = Division II National Tournament Final Four
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1974–75
| name = New Orleans
| overall = 23–7
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason = Division II National Tournament Runner-up
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1975–76
| name = New Orleans
| overall = 18–8
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1976–77
| name = New Orleans
| overall = 18–10
| conference = 4–2
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = New Orleans
| overall = 149–64
| confrecord = 4–2
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Mississippi State Bulldogs
| conference = Southeastern Conference
| startyear = 1977
| endyear = 1978
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1977–78
| name = Mississippi State
| overall = 18–9
| conference = 13–5
| confstanding = 2nd
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Mississippi State
| overall = 18–9
| confrecord = 13–5
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Murray State Racers
| conference = Ohio Valley Conference
| startyear = 1978
| endyear = 1985
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1978–79
| name = Murray State
| overall = 4–22
| conference = 2–10
| confstanding = 7th
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| season = 1979–80
| name = Murray State
| overall = 23–8
| conference = 10–2
| confstanding = 1st
| postseason = 1980 National Invitation Tournament
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1980–81
| name = Murray State
| overall = 17–10
| conference = 10–4
| confstanding = 2nd
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| season = 1981–82
| name = Murray State
| overall = 20–8
| conference = 13–3
| confstanding = 1st
| postseason = 1982 National Invitation Tournament
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| season = 1982–83
| name = Murray State
| overall = 21–8
| conference = 11–3
| confstanding = 1st
| postseason = 1983 National Invitation Tournament
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1983–84
| name = Murray State
| overall = 15–13
| conference = 7–7
| confstanding = 4th
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1984–85
| name = Murray State
| overall = 19–9
| conference = 8–6
| confstanding = 4th
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Murray State
| overall = 119–78
| confrecord = 61–35
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Indiana State Sycamores
| conference = Missouri Valley
| startyear = 1985
| endyear = 1989
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1985–86
| name = Indiana State
| overall = 11–17
| conference = 5–11
| confstanding = 7th
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1986–87
| name = Indiana State
| overall = 9–20
| conference = 4–10
| confstanding = T–7th
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1987–88
| name = Indiana State
| overall = 7–21
| conference = 2–12
| confstanding = 8th
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1988–89
| name = Indiana State
| overall = 4–24
| conference = 0–14
| confstanding = 8th
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Indiana State
| overall = 31–82
| confrecord = 11–47
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record End
| overall = 339–258 ({{winpct|339|258}})
}}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
{{navboxes|list=
{{Loyola Wolf Pack men's basketball coach navbox}}
{{New Orleans Privateers men's basketball coach navbox}}
{{Mississippi State Bulldogs basketball coach navbox}}
{{Murray State Racers men's basketball coach navbox}}
{{Indiana State Sycamores men's basketball coach navbox}}
{{Southeastern Conference Men's Basketball Coach of the Year navbox}}
{{Ohio Valley Conference Men's Basketball Coach of the Year navbox}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Greene, Ron}}
Category:American Basketball Association (2000–present) coaches
Category:American men's basketball coaches
Category:American men's basketball players
Category:Basketball coaches from Indiana
Category:Basketball players from Indiana
Category:College men's basketball head coaches in the United States
Category:High school basketball coaches in Kentucky
Category:Indiana State Sycamores men's basketball coaches
Category:Loyola Wolf Pack men's basketball coaches
Category:Mississippi State Bulldogs men's basketball coaches
Category:Murray State Racers men's basketball coaches
Category:Murray State Racers men's basketball players
Category:New Orleans Privateers men's basketball coaches