Harry Statham
Encyclopedia
Harry Statham is an American basketball coach. He is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
(NAIA) Basketball Hall of Fame. His 1,043 wins during his 45 seasons at McKendree University of Lebanon, Illinois
, are unmatched by any other men's basketball coach at a 4-year college or university in the United States. The only other coach at a 4-year school with 1,000 or more wins is Pat Summitt
, coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols
. In the junior college (2-year) ranks, Gene Bess
of Three Rivers Community College also has 1,000 wins.
. His father, Harry Statham Sr., died of pneumonia
and was buried on the day Statham was born. Statham was raised by his mother and his grandfather, Rufus Dye, who encouraged his grandson to get an education and to not smoke or drink.
Statham said of his mom, "[She] wanted me to get a college degree. I was raised so that reputation is so important, the family name, strength, honesty, trustworthiness, respectfulness, ambition."
Statham graduated with a bachelor's degree from McKendree College
in 1960. He then enrolled at the University of Illinois
, where he served as a graduate assistant
for the men’s basketball and track teams. He earned a master of science
degree in physical education
from Illinois.
.
Of his wife Rose, Statham said, "She has been just a wonderful asset for me and McKendree. It is amazing the insight wives have about things. Way back when, she would see a nice-looking kid and say, 'Boy, I could watch him for four years.' Now she says, 'He's not quick enough' or 'He's not a good enough shooter.' She is usually right."
Statham has a consistent daily routine, arising at 6 a.m. and exercising for 90 minutes. He eats lunch in his office: a brown bag lunch his wife prepares, which includes a turkey sandwich and a container of cut-up vegetables. At day's end, he returns the bag to his wife for reuse the next day. He is in bed and asleep before 11 p.m. The favorite vacation spots for the Stathams are Hawaii
and Las Vegas
.
Junior High School in Illinois while taking college courses at night.
). His 1961-62 squad had a 9–16 record and his 1962-63 squad finished 10–13. Statham then moved on to Dwight Township High School (Dwight, Illinois
) where he coached for three seasons from 1963 to 1966, posting a cumulative win-loss record of 24–45.
(AMC), Statham has led the Bearcats
to post-season play 37 times in 42 seasons. Statham has coached McKendree to all 12 of its NAIA national men's basketball championship
tournament berths, including five straight appearances from 1999-2004. Since his first season in 1966-67, Statham’s teams have averaged nearly 23 wins per season. His teams have won 20 or more games 32 times. McKendree also ranks among the NAIA’s top programs in terms of winning percentage over the past decade.
Statham has had 65 players receive post-season accolades. Eight of those players have earned NAIA All-America honors. Mike Strobbe, the most recent All-American, garnered first-team NAIA Division I All-America honors in 2006-07 after earning third-team recognition in 2005-06. Additionally, Statham has coached three players who were drafted in the professional ranks: Paul Funkhouser, a supplemental pick of the NBA
's Chicago Bulls
and the Carolina Cougars
of the American Basketball Association
; Dale Haverman, a fifth-round pick of the Seattle SuperSonics
in 1977; and Matt Laur, a fourth round pick of the National Basketball Development League
(D-League) draft by the Columbus Riverdragons. Many McKendree athletes who Statham has coached have gone on to successful coaching careers on both the high school and collegiate levels.
About his players, Statham said, "I always recruit the right kinds of players. We do not want thugs that play good basketball. We want them to be good, solid people. We don't want people that are going to flunk out. We want good people, good students and good basketball players—in that order."
Regarding his coaching philosophy, Statham said, "We do things consistently well. Our program is sound. We're very team-oriented, and we've tried to sell that from the very beginning. When you play hard and play together and do things fundamentally sound, you're going to be competitive. Our primary focus is to play hard, play well and try to do it as a team." Statham's on-court demeanor does not include yelling and ref-baiting Said Statham, "I don't like the [television] color commentators (saying) how you gotta work the referee and draw a T. We're trying to play the right way. They're out there saying you've got to bend the rules, step out there a little bit. They turn me off, I really don't enjoy that."
In addition to his coaching duties, until April 2009, Statham served as the university's athletic director and an assistant professor of health and human performance.
, McKendree posted three victories to advance to the NAIA Final Four. The Bearcats lost to eventual national champions Concordia University (California) in the semifinals. During the season, the Bearcats earned their first No. 1 ranking in the NAIA poll and entered the NAIA national tournament as the No. 2 seed, the highest seed ever for McKendree. The Bearcats also notched three winning streaks of at least 10 games during the season. Matt Laur was recognized as NAIA Player of the Year, the first McKendree athlete to earn the award in Division I. Laur also became the Bearcats’ all-time leading scorer in 2002-03.
, the Bearcats topped Mountain State University
(West Virginia
) in the first round and lost and were eliminated in the second round by Faulkner University
(Alabama
).
, and Bob Knight are the only men’s basketball coaches at senior colleges or universities with 900 coaching wins.
This team finished the season with a 27–7 record. In the 2008 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
, the Bearcats beat Texas Wesleyan University
in the first round and were eliminated in the second round by Campbellsville University
.
. They defeated Northwestern Oklahoma State University
by a score of 83-58 in the first round, and defeated Texas Wesleyan University
by a score of 87-75 in the second round. Then the Bearcats lost to MidAmerica Nazarene University
in the Elite 8, by a score of 59-55.
Coach of the Year award six different times, and he was also a six-time recipient of the NAIA District 20 Coach of the Year.
He was selected as the 2001-02 NAIA Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year.
In 2005, Statham was recognized at the National Association of Basketball Coaches
(NABC) national convention in St. Louis with the Guardians of the Game Leadership Award, an honor bestowed by his peers.
In 2006, the Lebanon City Council
honored Statham by renaming a roadway on the McKendree campus, Harry Statham Way. The University's gymnasium, the Harry M. Statham Sports Center (capacity 1500), is also named for him.
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
(NAIA) Basketball Hall of Fame. His 1,043 wins during his 45 seasons at McKendree University of Lebanon, Illinois
Lebanon, Illinois
Lebanon is a city in St. Clair County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,523 at the 2000 census. Like many other places in "Little Egypt" or Southern Illinois, Lebanon was named after the Middle Eastern country of the same name. It is a part of the Metro-East region of the Greater St...
, are unmatched by any other men's basketball coach at a 4-year college or university in the United States. The only other coach at a 4-year school with 1,000 or more wins is Pat Summitt
Pat Summitt
Patricia "Pat" Head Summitt is an American women's college basketball coach. She is currently the head coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols basketball team. She is the all-time winningest coach in NCAA basketball history of either a men's or women's team in any division...
, coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols
Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball
The Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball team represents the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee in NCAA women's basketball competition...
. In the junior college (2-year) ranks, Gene Bess
Gene Bess
Gene Bess has been the coach of the men's basketball team at Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, Missouri since 1971. At the end of the 2010-2011 season, his career win-loss record was 1114-290 , making him the all-time winningest junior college coach.Coach Bess is also the first...
of Three Rivers Community College also has 1,000 wins.
Early years
Statham was born on May 30, 1937 in Brookport, IllinoisBrookport, Illinois
Brookport is a city in Massac County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,054 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Paducah, KY-IL Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Brookport is located at ....
. His father, Harry Statham Sr., died of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
and was buried on the day Statham was born. Statham was raised by his mother and his grandfather, Rufus Dye, who encouraged his grandson to get an education and to not smoke or drink.
Statham said of his mom, "[She] wanted me to get a college degree. I was raised so that reputation is so important, the family name, strength, honesty, trustworthiness, respectfulness, ambition."
Statham graduated with a bachelor's degree from McKendree College
McKendree College
McKendree University, formerly known as McKendree College, is a private liberal arts college located in Lebanon, Illinois. The area is a part of the Metro-East region of Greater St. Louis. Founded in 1828 as the Lebanon Seminary, it is the oldest college in Illinois...
in 1960. He then enrolled at the 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...
, where he served as a graduate assistant
Graduate assistant
A graduate assistant is a position who serves in a support role at a university, usually while completing post-graduate education. The individual typically assists professors or with instructional responsibilities as teaching assistants, coaches with an athletic team, or university department...
for the men’s basketball and track teams. He earned a master of science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
degree in physical education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
from Illinois.
Family life
Statham and his wife Rose have no children but "hundreds of kids", for they consider the scores of the players that have played basketball for him to be their sons. The Stathams live in Belleville, IllinoisBelleville, Illinois
Belleville is a city in St. Clair County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city has a population of 44,478. It is the eighth-most populated city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area and the most populated city south of Springfield in the state of Illinois. It is the county...
.
Of his wife Rose, Statham said, "She has been just a wonderful asset for me and McKendree. It is amazing the insight wives have about things. Way back when, she would see a nice-looking kid and say, 'Boy, I could watch him for four years.' Now she says, 'He's not quick enough' or 'He's not a good enough shooter.' She is usually right."
Statham has a consistent daily routine, arising at 6 a.m. and exercising for 90 minutes. He eats lunch in his office: a brown bag lunch his wife prepares, which includes a turkey sandwich and a container of cut-up vegetables. At day's end, he returns the bag to his wife for reuse the next day. He is in bed and asleep before 11 p.m. The favorite vacation spots for the Stathams are Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
and Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
.
Junior high
Statham began his coaching career while an undergraduate student at McKendree. He guided the boy’s basketball team at O'FallonO'Fallon, Illinois
O'Fallon is a city in St. Clair County, Illinois, United States, and one of the fastest-growing communities in the Metropolitan St. Louis area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 28,281. The city is the third largest city in the Metro-East and Southern Illinois...
Junior High School in Illinois while taking college courses at night.
High school
From O'Fallon, Statham moved on to coach the varsity boys basketball team for two seasons at Manito Forman High School (Manito, IllinoisManito, Illinois
Manito is a village in Mason County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,733 at the 2000 census, and 1,595 at a 2009 estimate.The village is home to the Manito Popcorn Festival, which started in 1972.-Geography:...
). His 1961-62 squad had a 9–16 record and his 1962-63 squad finished 10–13. Statham then moved on to Dwight Township High School (Dwight, Illinois
Dwight, Illinois
Dwight is a village in located mainly in Livingston County, Illinois, with a small portion in Grundy County, Illinois. The population was 4,260 at the 2010 census. Dwight contains an original stretch of the famous U.S. Route 66, and uses a railroad station designed in 1891 by Henry Ives Cobb. It is...
) where he coached for three seasons from 1963 to 1966, posting a cumulative win-loss record of 24–45.
McKendree University
In his tenure at McKendree, a member of the American Midwest ConferenceAmerican Midwest Conference
The American Midwest Conference is a NAIA college athletic conference with nine member institutions located in Arkansas, Illinois, and Missouri in the United States.-Members:Notes:...
(AMC), Statham has led the Bearcats
Bearcats
Bearcats! is an American television series broadcast on the CBS television network during the Fall 1971 television season. It stars Rod Taylor and Dennis Cole as troubleshooters in the period before America entered World War I....
to post-season play 37 times in 42 seasons. Statham has coached McKendree to all 12 of its NAIA national men's basketball championship
NAIA national men's basketball championship
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Men's Basketball National Championship has been held annually since 1937 . The tournament was established by James Naismith to crown a national champion for smaller colleges and universities...
tournament berths, including five straight appearances from 1999-2004. Since his first season in 1966-67, Statham’s teams have averaged nearly 23 wins per season. His teams have won 20 or more games 32 times. McKendree also ranks among the NAIA’s top programs in terms of winning percentage over the past decade.
Statham has had 65 players receive post-season accolades. Eight of those players have earned NAIA All-America honors. Mike Strobbe, the most recent All-American, garnered first-team NAIA Division I All-America honors in 2006-07 after earning third-team recognition in 2005-06. Additionally, Statham has coached three players who were drafted in the professional ranks: Paul Funkhouser, a supplemental pick of the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
's Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
and the Carolina Cougars
Carolina Cougars
Carolina Cougars was a basketball franchise in the former American Basketball Association that existed from late 1969 through 1974. The Cougars were originally a charter member of the ABA as the Houston Mavericks in 1967. The Mavericks moved to North Carolina in late 1969 after two unsuccessful...
of the American Basketball Association
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
; Dale Haverman, a fifth-round pick of the Seattle SuperSonics
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
in 1977; and Matt Laur, a fourth round pick of the National Basketball Development League
NBA Development League
The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...
(D-League) draft by the Columbus Riverdragons. Many McKendree athletes who Statham has coached have gone on to successful coaching careers on both the high school and collegiate levels.
About his players, Statham said, "I always recruit the right kinds of players. We do not want thugs that play good basketball. We want them to be good, solid people. We don't want people that are going to flunk out. We want good people, good students and good basketball players—in that order."
Regarding his coaching philosophy, Statham said, "We do things consistently well. Our program is sound. We're very team-oriented, and we've tried to sell that from the very beginning. When you play hard and play together and do things fundamentally sound, you're going to be competitive. Our primary focus is to play hard, play well and try to do it as a team." Statham's on-court demeanor does not include yelling and ref-baiting Said Statham, "I don't like the [television] color commentators (saying) how you gotta work the referee and draw a T. We're trying to play the right way. They're out there saying you've got to bend the rules, step out there a little bit. They turn me off, I really don't enjoy that."
In addition to his coaching duties, until April 2009, Statham served as the university's athletic director and an assistant professor of health and human performance.
1987-88 team
This Bearcat squad opened the season with 22 straight victories en route to a school-record 35 wins and the University's first-ever NAIA Tournament berth. In the first round of the tournament, McKendree and its opponent Huron College (S.D.), scored a record 231 points, as the Bearcats triumphed 124–107. The combined point total set an NAIA Tournament record that stood until 2006.1996-97 team
Statham led this team to a quarterfinal spot in the NAIA Tournament. The Bearcats defeated two higher-ranked opponents to reach the NAIA Elite Eight, the team's best-ever finish at the national tournament until the success of the 2002-03 team.2002-03 team
McKendree compiled a 34–4 overall record. A 10–0 mark in the AMC marked the first time that the Bearcats went undefeated in the league. At the 2003 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament2003 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2003 Buffalo Funds - NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament was held from March at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. The 66th annual NAIA basketball tournament featured 32 teams playing in a single-elimination format....
, McKendree posted three victories to advance to the NAIA Final Four. The Bearcats lost to eventual national champions Concordia University (California) in the semifinals. During the season, the Bearcats earned their first No. 1 ranking in the NAIA poll and entered the NAIA national tournament as the No. 2 seed, the highest seed ever for McKendree. The Bearcats also notched three winning streaks of at least 10 games during the season. Matt Laur was recognized as NAIA Player of the Year, the first McKendree athlete to earn the award in Division I. Laur also became the Bearcats’ all-time leading scorer in 2002-03.
2006-07 team
McKendree used a late season surge and runner-up finish in the American Midwest Conference Tournament to earn its first NAIA Division I National Championship bid in three years. Statham guided the Bearcats to an overall record of 23–12 and an 8–4 mark in AMC regular-season play. In the 2007 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament2007 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2007 Buffalo Funds - NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament was held from March 14 to 20 at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. This was the 70th annual NAIA basketball tournament and features 32 teams playing in a single-elimination format. This tournament had the most total...
, the Bearcats topped Mountain State University
Mountain State University
Mountain State University is a private nonsectarian university based in Beckley, West Virginia, United States. The university offers undergraduate and master's degree programs, as well as a doctoral degree program. Most of the university's programs focus on the professions in business,...
(West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
) in the first round and lost and were eliminated in the second round by Faulkner University
Faulkner University
Faulkner University is a private Christian university, located in Montgomery, Alabama, USA, and affiliated with the Church of Christ. The University was founded in 1942 as Montgomery Bible School. In 1953 the school's name was changed to Alabama Christian College . In 1965, the college was moved to...
(Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
).
2007-08 team
Statham entered the 2007-08 season with 938 coaching victories and as the all-time wins leader in men’s college basketball history at the four-year level. He, Don MeyerDon Meyer
Don Meyer is a retired American college basketball coach who completed his career in 2010 as head coach of the men's team at Northern State University...
, and Bob Knight are the only men’s basketball coaches at senior colleges or universities with 900 coaching wins.
This team finished the season with a 27–7 record. In the 2008 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
2008 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2008 Buffalo Funds - NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament was held from March 19th to 25th at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri...
, the Bearcats beat Texas Wesleyan University
Texas Wesleyan University
Texas Wesleyan University is a private, coeducational, liberal arts university founded by the United Methodist Church in 1890. The main campus is located in the Polytechnic Heights Neighborhood of Fort Worth, Texas, with branch campuses in Burleson and downtown Fort Worth.-History:Texas Wesleyan...
in the first round and were eliminated in the second round by Campbellsville University
Campbellsville University
Campbellsville University, also known as CU, is a private university in Campbellsville, Kentucky, the seat of Taylor County. Founded as Russell Creek Academy, a Baptist institution, the university currently enrolls more than 3,000 students and is open to students of all denominations...
.
2008-09 team
At the end of the 2009 season Statham has won 995 games at McKendree, the most by any men's four-year college coach. The Bearcats won the AMC with a perfect 14-0 record in conference play. The 2008-2009 Bearcats finished 30-6 on the season and made it to the Elite 8 in the 2009 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament2009 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 72nd Buffalo Funds - NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament was held from March 18 to 24 at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. The 72nd annual NAIA basketball tournament featured 32 teams playing in a single-elimination format. The Heart of America Athletic Conference was the...
. They defeated Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Northwestern Oklahoma State University, also known as NWOSU, is a university in Alva, Oklahoma, United States, with satellite campuses in Enid and Woodward. A state university, it offers both bachelor's and master's degrees.-Establishment:...
by a score of 83-58 in the first round, and defeated Texas Wesleyan University
Texas Wesleyan University
Texas Wesleyan University is a private, coeducational, liberal arts university founded by the United Methodist Church in 1890. The main campus is located in the Polytechnic Heights Neighborhood of Fort Worth, Texas, with branch campuses in Burleson and downtown Fort Worth.-History:Texas Wesleyan...
by a score of 87-75 in the second round. Then the Bearcats lost to MidAmerica Nazarene University
MidAmerica Nazarene University
MidAmerica Nazarene University is a Christian liberal arts college in Olathe, Kansas. It was established in 1966 by the Church of the Nazarene.-History:Mid-America Nazarene College was founded in 1966...
in the Elite 8, by a score of 59-55.
Milestones
- On Nov. 15, 2002, Statham guided the Bearcats to an 88-87 victory against Mountain State UniversityMountain State UniversityMountain State University is a private nonsectarian university based in Beckley, West Virginia, United States. The university offers undergraduate and master's degree programs, as well as a doctoral degree program. Most of the university's programs focus on the professions in business,...
, making him the NAIA’s all-time leader in career victories with career win No. 817. - On Dec. 1, 2004, Statham led McKendree to an 83–72 victory over Maryville UniversityMaryville UniversityMaryville University of St. Louis is a private, coeducational university in Town and Country, Missouri, United States. It was founded in 1872 by the Religious of the Sacred Heart, a Roman Catholic order established in France by women dedicated to education....
, marking his 880th career win, pushing Statham past North CarolinaNorth Carolina Tar Heels men's basketballThe North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball program is the intercollegiate men's basketball of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and is considered one of the most successful programs in NCAA history...
head coach Dean SmithDean SmithDean Edwards Smith is a retired American head coach of men's college basketball. Originally from Emporia, Kansas, Smith has been called a “coaching legend” by the Basketball Hall of Fame. Smith is best known for his successful 36-year coaching tenure at the University of North Carolina at Chapel...
for the all-time wins record among college basketball coaches. - On Nov. 25, 2005, Statham reached the 900-win mark as the Bearcats defeated Freed-Hardeman UniversityFreed-Hardeman UniversityFreed-Hardeman University is a primarily undergraduate university in Henderson, Tennessee. The university is located within a short distance of the town's central area. The university traces its heritage to the members of the Churches of Christ who helped build it...
, 73–69. - On January 12, 2008, Statham reached the 950-win mark as the Bearcats defeated Williams Baptist CollegeWilliams Baptist CollegeWilliams Baptist College is a private, coeducational four-year college located in the northeast corner of Arkansas near the town of Walnut Ridge. Founded in 1941, this institution began its life as a two year school. It began granting bachelor's degrees in the 1980s...
, 98–73. - On December 9, 2008, Statham won his 975th game, defeating Olivet Nazarene UniversityOlivet Nazarene UniversityOlivet Nazarene University is a Christian institution of higher education located in the Kankakee, Illinois village of Bourbonnais. Named for Olivet, Illinois, ONU was originally established as a grammar school in east-central Illinois in 1907...
78-75 in overtime, and coached his 1,354th game, tying with former Mount St. Mary'sMount St. Mary's Mountaineers men's basketballThe Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers Basketball team is the basketball team that represents Mount St. Mary's University in Emmitsburg, Maryland, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Northeast Conference. The team's last appearance in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball...
coach Jim PhelanJim PhelanJim Phelan was a collegiate basketball coach for Mount Saint Mary's University. Jim was a 1951 graduate of La Salle University and played one season for the Philadelphia Warriors of the NBA. He was famous for wearing a bow tie on the sidelines.-Coaching career:Jim coached his entire career at...
for the most games coached. - On December 16, 2008, Statham won his 976th game, defeating Concordia SeminaryConcordia SeminaryConcordia Seminary is located in Clayton, Missouri, an inner-ring suburb on the western border of St. Louis, Missouri. The institution's primary mission is to train pastors, deaconesses, missionaries, chaplains, and church leaders for the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod . The current president of...
and coached his 1,355 game surpassing former Mt. St. Mary coach Jim Phelan for the most games coached. - On November 13, 2009, Statham collected his 1,000th win in McKendree's 79–49 win over East-WestEast-West UniversityEast-West University is a private, non-profit, non-denominational college in Chicago's South Loop neighborhood. The University was founded in 1980. East-West offers two and four year degrees and certificates...
.
Honors
Statham has been named the NAIA-Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA) Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year eleven times and in 1987 he was inducted into the IBCA-NAIA Hall of Fame. In 1998, Statham’s career accomplishments and achievements were recognized with his induction into the NAIA Hall of Fame. Statham has received the American Midwest ConferenceAmerican Midwest Conference
The American Midwest Conference is a NAIA college athletic conference with nine member institutions located in Arkansas, Illinois, and Missouri in the United States.-Members:Notes:...
Coach of the Year award six different times, and he was also a six-time recipient of the NAIA District 20 Coach of the Year.
He was selected as the 2001-02 NAIA Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year.
In 2005, Statham was recognized at the National Association of Basketball Coaches
National Association of Basketball Coaches
The National Association of Basketball Coaches , headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, is an American organization of college men's basketball coaches...
(NABC) national convention in St. Louis with the Guardians of the Game Leadership Award, an honor bestowed by his peers.
In 2006, the Lebanon City Council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
honored Statham by renaming a roadway on the McKendree campus, Harry Statham Way. The University's gymnasium, the Harry M. Statham Sports Center (capacity 1500), is also named for him.