LamarCardinals.com
	WEB

Billy Tubbs Position: Director of Athletics

Billy Tubbs, who had spent 18 years as a player, assistant coach, head coach and faculty member at Lamar University, returned to his alma mater as director of athletics May 27, 2002.

After serving for three seasons in the dual role of men's basketball coach (2003-06), Tubbs has turned over the coaching duties to three-year assistant coach Steve Roccaforte and devote all his time to the job he originally returned to perform -- athletics director.

"Billy Tubbs will continue the fine tradition of Cardinal athletics and take us to the next level," Simmons said in naming Tubbs athletic director.

A legendary coach with a reputation for rebuilding programs, Tubbs made a name for himself by taking Lamar to its first-ever NCAA Tournament in 1979 and leading the Cardinals to the "Sweet 16" in 1980.

The change in careers may surprise some people, but to Billy it was a chance to return "home."

"I consider it an honor and an opportunity to come back and, hopefully, make a contribution to this university because, whatever I am today, Lamar University is responsible for it," Tubbs said. "Lamar gave me a scholarship, and, had the university not given me a scholarship, I probably wouldn't have gone to college. It is a real pleasure, but more of an honor, to return to Beaumont and Lamar University as the athletic director of my school."

Tubbs continues to add milestones to his legacy, as he became the 28th coach in NCAA history to record 600 career wins during the 2003-04 season. He became just the ninth coach to record 100 wins at three different schools in 2004-05. He ranks among the Top 10 active NCAA coaches in wins.

In 30 years, Tubbs has a career record of 624-326 (.657). He has led his teams to 12 NCAA Tournament appearances, six NIT appearances, eight conference championships, three conference tournament championships and 18 20-win seasons. For his efforts, he was named conference coach of the year eight times and was a two-time national coach of the year.

His most recent coaching stint was eight years at TCU, where he guided the Horned Frogs to 156-95 (.622) record. He took TCU to one NCAA Tournament and a pair of NIT, and earned Southwest Conference (1995) and Western Athletic Conference (1998) Coach of the Year honors.

Prior to TCU, Tubbs spent 14 years as the head coach at Oklahoma. He led the Sooners to the NCAA championship game in 1988 and posted a 333-132 (.716) record. He took OU to nine NCAA Tournaments and four NIT's during his tenure, including a streak of six straight "Sweet 16" appearances from 1985-90. He was named Big Eight Coach of the Year four times (1984, 1985, 1988, 1989) and earned Basketball Weekly National Coach of the Year honors in 1983 and 1985.

Tubbs gained national attention during his four-year coaching stint at Lamar (1976-80) with his up-tempo style of play. He guided the Cardinals to a 75-46 (.620) record and the school's first two NCAA Tournament appearances. Lamar posted a 23-9 record in 1978-79, won the Southland Conference championship, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament where they upset Detroit in the first round before losing to eventual national champion Michigan State in the second round. A year later, the Cardinals went 22-11, won another SLC championship, and advanced to the third round (Sweet 16) of the NCAA Tournament with wins over Weber State and No. 5-ranked Oregon State before losing to Clemson. He twice (1978 and 1980) earned SLC Coach of the Year honors.

Tubbs began his head coaching career at Southwestern University, where he posted a 31-24 (.564) record over two years.

A native of Tulsa, Okla., Tubbs was a two-year letterwinner at Lamar from 1955-57 for coach Jack Martin. He began his coaching career as Martin's assistant coach from 1960-71. He was a three-year basketball letterwinner at Tulsa's Central High School and played at Lon Morris Junior College, where he helped the Bearcats to the National Junior College semifinals.

An avid jogger and golfer, he recorded his first hole-in-one in July 1995. The president and CEO of B.T., Inc., Tubbs is a supporter of many charitable causes.

Billy and Pat Tubbs have two children, Tommy, who played two seasons at point guard for his dad at Oklahoma (1983-85) and was an assistant coach at Lamar, and Taylor, a former head pom-pom for the Sooner cagers. Tommy and his wife, Ann, are the parents of two daughters, Hannah Marie and Katie. Taylor and her husband, former Sooner split end Carl Cabbiness, are the parents of a daughter, Callie, and two sons, Trey and Cale.