Dana Kirk (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Dana Grey Kirk was an American college basketball
coach. He was the head coach
for the Memphis State University
(now the University of Memphis) men's team from 1979 to 1986. His coaching record was 158–58, including a Final Four
appearance in 1985. He had previously been the head coach at Virginia Commonwealth University from 1976 to 1979 with a record of 57–23. Prior to that he was an assistant coach for Denny Crum
at the University of Louisville
.
Kirk built the Tigers into a national powerhouse with teams consisting largely of Memphis-area players. However, he only graduated six players in seven years, including only two on the celebrated 1985 team.
Only a year after the Final Four appearance, Kirk was forced out after an investigation revealed he had committed several felonies. Moreover, the Tigers were found to have committed many NCAA violations. The Tigers were forced to sit out the 1987 NCAA Tournament, and were forced to vacate their Final Four standing from 1985.
He was indicted by a federal Grand Jury
on 11 counts of tax evasion, filing false income tax returns, mail fraud and obstruction of justice. At his trial, witnesses testified that he scalped
tickets for as much as five times face value, took money from boosters to give to players and actively solicited kickback
s from tournament promoters. He served four months in a federal minimum-security prison in Montgomery, Alabama
. After serving out his sentence, he returned to Memphis where he hosted a sports talk show on WHBQ (AM)
. He has also published his autobiography Simply Amazing, The Dana Kirk Story, written with Dallas talk show host and columnist Mark Davis
, who was at WHBQ at the time.
He retired and lived in Memphis, Tennessee
with his wife Denise McCrary, a successful attorney. If asked about any of the happenings surrounding his Memphis State years, he would only respond "I don't do negativity".
Dana Kirk died of a heart attack
at Methodist University Hospital in Memphis
on February 15, 2010.
&Record at Memphis State is 149-53 without vacated games.
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
coach. He was the head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
for the Memphis State University
University of Memphis
The University of Memphis is an American public research university located in the Normal Station neighborhood of Memphis, Tennessee and is the flagship public research university of the Tennessee Board of Regents system....
(now the University of Memphis) men's team from 1979 to 1986. His coaching record was 158–58, including a Final Four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
appearance in 1985. He had previously been the head coach at Virginia Commonwealth University from 1976 to 1979 with a record of 57–23. Prior to that he was an assistant coach for Denny Crum
Denny Crum
Denzil E. "Denny" Crum is a former American men's college basketball coach at the University of Louisville from 1971 to 2001, compiling a 675–295 record. He guided the Cardinals to two NCAA championships and six Final Fours...
at the University of Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
.
Kirk built the Tigers into a national powerhouse with teams consisting largely of Memphis-area players. However, he only graduated six players in seven years, including only two on the celebrated 1985 team.
Only a year after the Final Four appearance, Kirk was forced out after an investigation revealed he had committed several felonies. Moreover, the Tigers were found to have committed many NCAA violations. The Tigers were forced to sit out the 1987 NCAA Tournament, and were forced to vacate their Final Four standing from 1985.
He was indicted by a federal Grand Jury
Grand jury
A grand jury is a type of jury that determines whether a criminal indictment will issue. Currently, only the United States retains grand juries, although some other common law jurisdictions formerly employed them, and most other jurisdictions employ some other type of preliminary hearing...
on 11 counts of tax evasion, filing false income tax returns, mail fraud and obstruction of justice. At his trial, witnesses testified that he scalped
Ticket resale
Ticket resale is the act of reselling tickets for admission to events. Tickets are bought from licensed sellers and are then sold for a price determined by the individual or company in possession of the tickets. Tickets sold through secondary sources may be sold for less or more than their face...
tickets for as much as five times face value, took money from boosters to give to players and actively solicited kickback
Bribery
Bribery, a form of corruption, is an act implying money or gift giving that alters the behavior of the recipient. Bribery constitutes a crime and is defined by Black's Law Dictionary as the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions of an official or...
s from tournament promoters. He served four months in a federal minimum-security prison in Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
. After serving out his sentence, he returned to Memphis where he hosted a sports talk show on WHBQ (AM)
WHBQ (AM)
WHBQ is an AM radio station in Memphis, Tennessee, in the United States of America. Its frequency is 560 kHz. Although today it broadcasts sports news exclusively, the station became famous in the 1950s for playing rhythm and blues....
. He has also published his autobiography Simply Amazing, The Dana Kirk Story, written with Dallas talk show host and columnist Mark Davis
Mark Davis
-Entertainers:*Mark Davis , radio talk show host*Mark Davis , adult film actor*Mark Davis , former drummer of Ugly Kid Joe*Richard Cheese , comedic lounge singer...
, who was at WHBQ at the time.
He retired and lived in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
with his wife Denise McCrary, a successful attorney. If asked about any of the happenings surrounding his Memphis State years, he would only respond "I don't do negativity".
Dana Kirk died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
at Methodist University Hospital in Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
on February 15, 2010.
Head coaching record
^^Memphis State was forced to vacate its 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985 and 1986 NCAA Tournament appearances, as well as its third-place standing in the 1985 tournament, due to recruiting violations. Official records are 23-4 for 1981-82, 22-7 for 1982-83, 24-6 for 1983-84, 27-3 for 1984-85 and 27-5 for 1985-86.&Record at Memphis State is 149-53 without vacated games.