Harry Combes
Encyclopedia
Harry Combes a native of Monticello, Illinois
, served as head men's basketball coach at University of Illinois
between 1947 and 1967.
Combes played high school basketball for Monticello High School
, where he led his teams to an overall combined record of 72-9.
A three-year letterwinner, Combes was also a star player for the Illini
from 1935–1937 and helped lead Illinois to both its Big Ten titles in the 1930s.
Combes began coaching basketball at Champaign High School
, where he posted an astounding 254-46 record, including winning the state title in 1946. Beyond the single championship, Combes led Champaign Central to seven state tournament appearances in nine years from 1939 to 1947. During that time the Maroons captured fourth place in 1940 and 1944 before starting three years of amazing runs to the championship game where they finished second in 1945, first in 1946, and second in 1947. In 2007, the Illinois High School Association
named Combes one of the 100 Legends of the IHSA Boys Basketball Tournament.
Once at Illinois
he won three Big Ten titles in his first five seasons ('49, '51, and '52). Combes led Illinois to three third-place finishes in the NCAA Tournament
in the four-year period from 1949-1952. The squad won 79 of the 100 games during those four years. Illinois' 1952 Final Four appearance was the first officially recognized Final Four and the only Final Four appearance Illinois made until 1989. Until Lou Henson
broke the record in 1990, Combes' 316 wins were the most wins ever by an Illinois head basketball coach.
Combes also served as boys baseball coach at Champaign High School, where he compiled an impressive 70-26-2 (.724) record over a five-year period (1937–1942).
Monticello, Illinois
Monticello is a city in Piatt County, Illinois, United States. The population was 5,138 at the 2000 census, and 5,374 at a 2009 estimate. It is the county seat of Piatt County.-Geography:Monticello is located at ....
, served as head men's basketball coach at University of Illinois
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
between 1947 and 1967.
Combes played high school basketball for Monticello High School
Monticello High School (Illinois)
Monticello High School is a coed public secondary institution located in Monticello, Illinois. It is a part of Community Unit School District #25...
, where he led his teams to an overall combined record of 72-9.
A three-year letterwinner, Combes was also a star player for the Illini
Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball
The Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team is an NCAA Division I college basketball team competing in the Big Ten Conference. Home games are played at Assembly Hall, located on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's campus in Champaign....
from 1935–1937 and helped lead Illinois to both its Big Ten titles in the 1930s.
Combes began coaching basketball at Champaign High School
Champaign Central High School
Champaign Central High School is a high school located in Champaign, Illinois. It has 1,385 students in grades 9-12. The principal is Joe Williams. It is part of the Champaign Unit 4 School District school system. Its sports teams are the Central Maroons....
, where he posted an astounding 254-46 record, including winning the state title in 1946. Beyond the single championship, Combes led Champaign Central to seven state tournament appearances in nine years from 1939 to 1947. During that time the Maroons captured fourth place in 1940 and 1944 before starting three years of amazing runs to the championship game where they finished second in 1945, first in 1946, and second in 1947. In 2007, the Illinois High School Association
Illinois High School Association
The Illinois High School Association is one of 521 state high school associations in the United States, designed to regulate competition in most interscholastic sports and some interscholastic activities at the high school level. It is a charter member of the National Federation of State High...
named Combes one of the 100 Legends of the IHSA Boys Basketball Tournament.
Once at Illinois
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
he won three Big Ten titles in his first five seasons ('49, '51, and '52). Combes led Illinois to three third-place finishes in the NCAA Tournament
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
in the four-year period from 1949-1952. The squad won 79 of the 100 games during those four years. Illinois' 1952 Final Four appearance was the first officially recognized Final Four and the only Final Four appearance Illinois made until 1989. Until Lou Henson
Lou Henson
Lou Henson is a former college basketball coach. He retired as the all time leader in victories at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with 423 victories and New Mexico State with 289 victories...
broke the record in 1990, Combes' 316 wins were the most wins ever by an Illinois head basketball coach.
Combes also served as boys baseball coach at Champaign High School, where he compiled an impressive 70-26-2 (.724) record over a five-year period (1937–1942).
Coaching record - Basketball
| School | Season | Record | Postseason | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champaign HS | 1938-39 | 18-9 | State Quarterfinals | |
| Champaign HS | 1939-40 | 26-8 | State Semifinals | |
| Champaign HS | 1940-41 | 26-3 | ||
| Champaign HS | 1941-42 | 22-7 | ||
| Champaign HS | 1942-43 | 25-6 | State Quarterfinals | |
| Champaign HS | 1943-44 | 31-6 | State Semifinals | |
| Champaign HS | 1944-45 | 34-2 | State Championship (Runner-up) | |
| Champaign HS | 1945-46 | 38-1 | State Championship | |
| Champaign HS | 1946-47 | 34-4 | State Championship (Runner-up) | |
| Total | Champaign HS | 254-46 | 88-47 |
| School | Season | Record | Conference Record, Place | Postseason (Final AP Rank) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 1947-48 | 15-5 | 7-5 | |
| Illinois | 1948-49 | 21-4 | 10-2, 1st | NCAA Playoff, 3rd (#4) |
| Illinois | 1949-50 | 14-8 | 7-5, T3rd | |
| Illinois | 1950-51 | 22-5 | 13-1, 1st | NCAA Playoff, 3rd (#5) |
| Illinois | 1951-52 | 22-4 | 12-2, 1st | NCAA Final Four, 3rd (#2) |
| Illinois | 1952-53 | 18-4 | 14-4, 2nd | (#11) |
| Illinois | 1953-54 | 17-5 | 10-4, T3rd | (#19) |
| Illinois | 1954-55 | 17-5 | 10-4, T2 | (#18) |
| Illinois | 1955-56 | 18-4 | 11-3, 2nd | (#7) |
| Illinois | 1956-57 | 14-8 | 7-7, 7th | |
| Illinois | 1957-58 | 11-11 | 5-9, T8th | |
| Illinois | 1958-59 | 12-10 | 7-7, T5 | |
| Illinois | 1959-60 | 16-7 | 8-6, T3 | |
| Illinois | 1960-61 | 9-15 | 5-9, 7th | |
| Illinois | 1961-62 | 15-8 | 7-7, T4 | |
| Illinois | 1962-63 | 20-6 | 11-3, 1st | NCAA Second Round, (#8) |
| Illinois | 1963-64 | 13-11 | 6-8, T6th | |
| Illinois | 1964-65 | 18-6 | 10-4, 3rd | |
| Illinois | 1965-66 | 12-12 | 8-6, T3rd | |
| Illinois | 1966-67 | 21-12 | 6-8 | |
| Total | Illinois | 316-150 | 174-104 |
See also
- Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketballIllinois Fighting Illini men's basketballThe Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team is an NCAA Division I college basketball team competing in the Big Ten Conference. Home games are played at Assembly Hall, located on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's campus in Champaign....
- NCAA Men's Division I Final Four appearances by coachesNCAA Men's Division I Final Four appearances by coachesThis is a list of the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Regional Championships by coach. The current names of the NCAA Tournament regions are the East, Southeast, Southwest, and West...
External links
- Harry Combes profile, sports-reference.com