Harry Combes

Not to be confused with Harry Combs.

Harry Combes
Biographical details
Born(1915-03-03)March 3, 1915
Monticello, Illinois, U.S.
DiedNovember 13, 1977(1977-11-13) (aged 62)
Champaign, Illinois, U.S.
Playing career
1935–1937Illinois
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1938–1947Champaign HS
1947–1967Illinois
Head coaching record
Overall316–150 (college)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
3 NCAA Regional—Final Four (1949, 1951, 1952)
4 Big Ten regular season (1949, 1951, 1952, 1963)
Illinois High School (1946)
Awards
100 Legends of the IHSA Boys Basketball Tournament (2007)

Harry Combes (March 3, 1915 – November 13, 1977), a native of Monticello, Illinois, served as head men's basketball coach at University of Illinois between 1947 and 1967.

Biography

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 to 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.[1]

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).

Once at Illinois he won three Big Ten titles in his first five seasons (1949, 1951, and 1952). Combes led Illinois to three third-place finishes in the NCAA tournament in the four-year period from 1949 to 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 three third-place finishes would be the Illini's deepest runs in the tournament until the 1989 team made the Final Four. Until Lou Henson broke the record in 1990, Combes' 316 wins were the most wins ever by an Illinois head basketball coach.[2]

Combes, along with his assistant coach Howie Braun and head football coach Pete Elliott, were pressured into resigning on March 19, 1967 by the university which was threatened with expulsion by the Big Ten Conference over a slush fund scandal.[3] He was succeeded by Harv Schmidt ten days later on March 29.[4]

He died in Champaign on November 13, 1977.[5]

Head coaching record

High school

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

College

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Illinois Fighting Illini (Big Ten Conference) (1937–1948)
1947–48 Illinois 15–5 7–5 T–3rd
1948–49 Illinois 21–4 10–2 1st NCAA Third Place
1949–50 Illinois 14–8 7–5 T–3rd
1950–51 Illinois 22–5 13–1 1st NCAA Third Place
1951–52 Illinois 22–4 12–2 1st NCAA Third Place
1952–53 Illinois 18–4 14–4 2nd
1953–54 Illinois 17–5 10–4 T–3rd
1954–55 Illinois 17–5 10–4 T–2nd
1955–56 Illinois 18–4 11–3 2nd
1956–57 Illinois 14–8 7–7 7th
1957–58 Illinois 11–11 5–9 T–8th
1958–59 Illinois 12–10 7–7 T–5th
1959–60 Illinois 16–7 8–6 T–3rd
1960–61 Illinois 9–15 5–9 7th
1961–62 Illinois 15–8 7–7 T–4th
1962–63 Illinois 20–6 11–3 1st NCAA University Division Elite Eight
1963–64 Illinois 13–11 6–8 T–6th
1964–65 Illinois 18–6 10–4 3rd
1965–66 Illinois 12–12 8–6 T–3rd
1966–67 Illinois 12–12 6–8 T–7th
Illinois: 316–150 174–104
Total: 316–150

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.ihsa.org/initiatives/legends/index.htm [bare URL]
  2. ^ 2004–2005 University of Illinois Men's Basketball Program
  3. ^ "Slush Fund Scandal: Three Illini Coaches Quit," United Press International (UPI), Monday, March 20, 1967. Retrieved July 29, 2020
  4. ^ "Illinois Names Coaches," The Associated Press (AP), Thursday, March 30, 1967 (scroll down to page 7). Retrieved July 29, 2020
  5. ^ "Harry Combes Dies". Herald & Review. Champaign. AP. November 14, 1977. p. 11. Retrieved October 16, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.