Tommy Bartlett (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Thomas G. "Tommy" Bartlett (born c. 1928) is a former American college basketball
and tennis
player, as well as a former college basketball and tennis head coach
. After graduating from the University of Tennessee
, Bartlett served as the men's basketball head coach for Carson-Newman College
, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
, and the University of Florida
, and also as the men's tennis head coach at the University of Tennessee and UT-Chattanooga.
, where he played for the Tennessee Volunteers basketball
team from 1949 to 1952 and the Volunteers men's tennis team from 1950 to 1952. In basketball, he was a three-year varsity letterman, team captain
, and an All-Southeastern Conference
(SEC) selection at guard as a senior; in tennis, he was a three-year letterman, a two-year starter, and the team captain and an All-SEC selection as a senior
. Memorably, Bartlett was undefeated in three seasons on the Volunteers varsity men's tennis team, and won SEC singles tennis championships at No. 6 in 1950, No. 5 in 1951, and No. 3 in 1952, and SEC doubles championships at No. 3 in 1950 and 1951, and No. 2 in 1952. As a senior, Bartlett and was also the third-ranked college basketball player in the percentage of foul shots completed (80.2%), and led the Vols to their first-ever SEC team championship in men's tennis. He graduated from Tennessee in 1952.
in 1953. In four seasons as the Lenoir City Panthers head coach, he compiled an overall win-loss record of 97–20, and led the Panthers to the state high school championship semifinal game before losing to Kingsport High School in 1957.
He subsequently served as the head basketball coach for Carson–Newman College in 1957–1958, and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga from 1958 to 1962. In 1962, he returned to his alma mater
, the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, as an assistant basketball coach under the Volunteers' head coach Ray Mears
. In 1963, while continuing as a Volunteers basketball assistant, he also became the head coach of the Volunteers men's tennis team. In 1966, he led the Vols tennis team to their second SEC tennis team championship, and their first since 1952—when Bartlett was a member of the team.
In 1966, Bartlett became the head coach of the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida
, where he led the Florida Gators men's basketball
team from 1966 to 1973. Contrary to the Gators previous coach, he emphasized defense from the start. Bartlett's first Gators squad, including Gary Keller
and Neal Walk
, was the best Florida had produced until that time; they posted the best season in the history of the program in 1966–1967, when they finished 21–4 overall, and 14–4 and in second place in the SEC. It was also the first Gators basketball squad to ever be ranked in the national polls. In an era when the NCAA invited only conference champions to participate in its 23-team NCAA Tournament, the Gators missed their first NCAA Tournament appearance by a single game after losing to coach Ray Mears' Tennessee Volunteers twice in the regular season. Although Bartlett's 1968–1969 Gators received an invitation to the 1969 National Invitation Tournament
(NIT), none of his subsequent Gators teams equaled the success of his first. During his seven-year tenure as the Florida Gators' head basketball coach, he was responsible for recruiting Florida's first African-American player, coaching the Gators to their first twenty-win season, and leading them to their first national post-season tournament appearance; he finished with an overall win-loss record of 95–85 and 62–64 in the SEC.
Bartlett returned to collegiate coaching in 1979, serving as the men's and women's tennis head coach for the Chattanooga Mocs for twelve seasons until 1990. His Chattanooga Mocs teams won eight Southern Conference
men's tennis championships (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1988 and 1989); his Lady Mocs teams won five Southern Conference women's tennis championships (1984, 1985, 1986, 1988 and 1990) and three NCAA Division II women's tennis championships (1983, 1984 and 1985).
Bartlett was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 1986.
team.
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....
and tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
player, as well as a former college basketball and tennis 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...
. After graduating from the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
, Bartlett served as the men's basketball head coach for Carson-Newman College
Carson-Newman College
Carson–Newman College is a historically Baptist liberal arts college located in Jefferson City, Tennessee, United States. Enrollment as of 2006-2007 was about 2,050. The college's students come from 44 U.S. states and 30 other countries. Studies are offered in approximately 90 different academic...
, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is a public university located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The University, often referred to as UTC or simply "Chattanooga" , is one of three universities and two other affiliated institutions in the University of Tennessee System; the others being in...
, and the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
, and also as the men's tennis head coach at the University of Tennessee and UT-Chattanooga.
Early life and playing career
Bartlett attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TennesseeKnoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
, where he played for the Tennessee Volunteers basketball
Tennessee Volunteers basketball
The Tennessee Volunteers basketball team represents the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee in NCAA men's basketball competition. The Volunteers currently compete in the Southeastern Conference...
team from 1949 to 1952 and the Volunteers men's tennis team from 1950 to 1952. In basketball, he was a three-year varsity letterman, team captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
, and an All-Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
(SEC) selection at guard as a senior; in tennis, he was a three-year letterman, a two-year starter, and the team captain and an All-SEC selection as a senior
Senior (education)
Senior is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the 4th year of study .-High school:...
. Memorably, Bartlett was undefeated in three seasons on the Volunteers varsity men's tennis team, and won SEC singles tennis championships at No. 6 in 1950, No. 5 in 1951, and No. 3 in 1952, and SEC doubles championships at No. 3 in 1950 and 1951, and No. 2 in 1952. As a senior, Bartlett and was also the third-ranked college basketball player in the percentage of foul shots completed (80.2%), and led the Vols to their first-ever SEC team championship in men's tennis. He graduated from Tennessee in 1952.
Coaching career
Bartlett began his coaching career at Lenoir City High School in Lenoir City, TennesseeLenoir City, Tennessee
Lenoir City is a city in Loudon County, Tennessee, United States. Its population was 8,642 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Knoxville Metropolitan Area....
in 1953. In four seasons as the Lenoir City Panthers head coach, he compiled an overall win-loss record of 97–20, and led the Panthers to the state high school championship semifinal game before losing to Kingsport High School in 1957.
He subsequently served as the head basketball coach for Carson–Newman College in 1957–1958, and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga from 1958 to 1962. In 1962, he returned to his alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
, the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, as an assistant basketball coach under the Volunteers' head coach Ray Mears
Ray Mears (coach)
Ray Mears was a former collegiate basketball coach at Wittenberg University and the University of Tennessee . His career record of 399-135 still ranks among the top 15 all-time NCAA coaching records for those with a minimum of 10 seasons...
. In 1963, while continuing as a Volunteers basketball assistant, he also became the head coach of the Volunteers men's tennis team. In 1966, he led the Vols tennis team to their second SEC tennis team championship, and their first since 1952—when Bartlett was a member of the team.
In 1966, Bartlett became the head coach of the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
, where he led the Florida Gators men's basketball
Florida Gators men's basketball
The Florida Gators men's basketball team represents the University of Florida in the sport of basketball. The Gators compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Southeastern Conference...
team from 1966 to 1973. Contrary to the Gators previous coach, he emphasized defense from the start. Bartlett's first Gators squad, including Gary Keller
Gary Keller
Gary J. Keller is a former American college and professional basketball player who was a center and power forward in the American Basketball Association for two seasons during the late 1960s...
and Neal Walk
Neal Walk
Neal Eugene Walk is a former American college and professional basketball player who was a center in the National Basketball Association for seven seasons during the late 1960s and 1970s. Walk played college basketball for the University of Florida, and still remains the Florida Gators' all-time...
, was the best Florida had produced until that time; they posted the best season in the history of the program in 1966–1967, when they finished 21–4 overall, and 14–4 and in second place in the SEC. It was also the first Gators basketball squad to ever be ranked in the national polls. In an era when the NCAA invited only conference champions to participate in its 23-team NCAA Tournament, the Gators missed their first NCAA Tournament appearance by a single game after losing to coach Ray Mears' Tennessee Volunteers twice in the regular season. Although Bartlett's 1968–1969 Gators received an invitation to the 1969 National Invitation Tournament
1969 National Invitation Tournament
The 1969 National Invitation Tournament was the 1969 edition of the annual NCAA college basketball competition.-Selected teams:Below is a list of the 16 teams selected for the tournament.-Brackets/Results:Below is the tournament bracket....
(NIT), none of his subsequent Gators teams equaled the success of his first. During his seven-year tenure as the Florida Gators' head basketball coach, he was responsible for recruiting Florida's first African-American player, coaching the Gators to their first twenty-win season, and leading them to their first national post-season tournament appearance; he finished with an overall win-loss record of 95–85 and 62–64 in the SEC.
Bartlett returned to collegiate coaching in 1979, serving as the men's and women's tennis head coach for the Chattanooga Mocs for twelve seasons until 1990. His Chattanooga Mocs teams won eight Southern Conference
Southern Conference
The Southern Conference is a Division I college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Southern Conference football teams compete in the Football Championship Subdivision . Member institutions are located in the states of Alabama, Georgia, North...
men's tennis championships (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1988 and 1989); his Lady Mocs teams won five Southern Conference women's tennis championships (1984, 1985, 1986, 1988 and 1990) and three NCAA Division II women's tennis championships (1983, 1984 and 1985).
Bartlett was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 1986.
Tennis family
Bartlett's daughter-in-law, Sue Bartlett, was an All-American for the Chattanooga Lady Mocs tennis team in 1978; his granddaughter, Claire Bartlett, currently plays for the Florida Gators women's tennisFlorida Gators women's tennis
The Florida Gators women's tennis team represents the University of Florida in the sport of tennis. The Lady Gators compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Southeastern Conference . They play their home matches in Linder Stadium on the university's...
team.
Men's basketball
See also
- Carson–Newman Eagles
- Chattanooga Mocs
- Florida GatorsFlorida GatorsThe Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
- List of University of Tennessee people
- Tennessee VolunteersTennessee VolunteersThe Tennessee Volunteers and Lady Volunteers are the National Collegiate Athletic Association college sports teams at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. Mike Hamilton is the most recent Men's Athletic Director, but resigned on June 7, 2011, and Joan Cronan is the current Women's...
- University Athletic AssociationUniversity of Florida Athletic AssociationThe University Athletic Association, Inc. is a non-profit corporation that is responsible for maintaining the Florida Gators intercollegiate sports program of the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida...