Marvin Speight is a former head basketball coach at Arkansas State University

Arkansas State University

Arkansas State University is a public university and is the flagship campus of the Arkansas State University System, the state's second largest college system and third largest university by enrollment. It is located atop on Crowley's Ridge at Jonesboro, Arkansas, USA...

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Born in Hickory Plains, Arkansas

Hickory Plains, Arkansas

Hickory Plains is an unincorporated community in Prairie County, Arkansas, United States. Hickory Plains is located at the junction of Arkansas Highway 13 and Arkansas Highway 38 west of Des Arc. Hickory Plains has a post office with ZIP code 72066....

, Speight went on to be a standout at Beebe High School and played collegiately at the University of Central Arkansas

University of Central Arkansas

The University of Central Arkansas is a state-run institution located in the city of Conway, the seat of Faulkner County, north of Little Rock and is the fourth largest university by enrollment in the U.S. state of Arkansas, and the third largest college system in the state. The school is most...

. His collegiate career was split due to his service in World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

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High school

After college, Speight went on to take the head coaching job at tiny Moro High School in eastern Arkansas where he held the position of head basketball coach. He left Moro to take the coaching job at Searcy High School.

ASU-Beebe

Speight was offered the head coaching position at what is now Arkansas State University-Beebe in 1953. He would find success at Beebe the town where he played high school ball. He remained at ASU-Beebe until 1963 when he took the job at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

Arkansas State University

Speight took over for John Rauth in 1963 at Arkansas State and guided the Indians to several postseason appearances, with their best season coming in the 1966 campaign. Speight also coached ASU star Jerry Rook

Jerry Rook

Jerry G. Rook is an American former basketball player best known for his success at Arkansas State University.-High school:...

for Rook's final two seasons. Speight remained with the school until 1969 when he stepped down to engage in teaching full time.