A. Barrett Bates - 2004 Athlete/Coach/Meritorious Service

During the last six decades, Anderson University and Barrett Bates have been synonymous.

In the fall of 1959, Bates came to then Anderson College to play basketball and get a college degree. Forty-three years later, including the last 27 at Anderson University, Bates retired as Athletic Director of his alma mater.

Bates scored more than 1,400 points on the court, won more than 200 games on the bench and was in charge of 16 sports as they won numerous conference champions and All-Sports trophies for both the men and women.

He served as the Athletic Director for the past 20 years after coaching the men’s basketball team for 19 seasons (1975-93) and starting on the varsity team for four from 1959-63. He has been on the floor or bench for the last two conference titles in school history (1962 as a player and 1982 as coach).

Originally from Elmore, Ohio, Bates graduated from Anderson with a bachelor’s degree in 1963. He was a two-time All-Hoosier College Conference selection, team captain and member of the Ravens 1960-61 team that finished 26-4 and went to the quarterfinals of the NAIA National Tournament in Kansas City, Mo., before falling to eventual national champion and future NBA great Willis Reed and Grambling.

He earned his masters degree in Education from Ball State in 1969 and did post graduate work at North Texas State and Notre Dame. He had brief coaching stops in Texas and Ohio before taking over for Bob Blume as men’s basketball coach in 1975.

As basketball coach, he won a school-record 245 games, including the 1982 Hoosier-Buckeye Conference title. He was named Hoosier-Buckeye Conference Coach of the Year in 1979 and District 21 Coach of the Year in 1980. Other accomplishments during that period include Outstanding Young Man of the Year in 1976 and NAIA District 21 Athletic Director of the Year in 1986.

Bates was also on the NAIA National Tournament Committee for six years, Chairman of the NAIA National Tournament Committee (1984), Chairman of the NAIA Div. II National Tournament Committee (1992) and Secretary-Treasurer of the NAIA Basketball Coaches Association (1986-87).

Anderson University is proud to name A. Barrett Bates to the Athletic Hall of Fame.