Taylor "Tates" Locke (born February 25, 1937) is an American former basketball coach.
Locke's only experience at the professional level was made possible by Jack Ramsay who brought him to the Buffalo Braves as an assistant coach and chief scout beginning in 1975-76 Buffalo Braves season, 1975–76. When Ramsay's contract wasn't renewed the day after the Braves were eliminated by the Boston Celtics from the 1976 NBA playoffs, playoffs, Locke was promoted and signed a two-year contract to succeed him as the franchise's fourth head coach three days later on May 6, 1976. He vowed to build "one hell of an aggressive basketball team."
Once the 1976-77 Buffalo Braves season, 1976–77 season started, the Braves traded Bob McAdoo and Tom McMillen to the 1976-77 New York Knicks season, New York Knicks and Moses Malone to the 1976-77 Houston Rockets season, Houston Rockets. Locke was also at odds with Ernie DiGregorio and John Shumate. With the Braves at 16–30, games behind the Atlantic Division-leading 1976-77 Philadelphia 76ers season, Philadelphia 76ers and in the midst of a five-match losing streak, he was fired and replaced on an interim basis by general manager Bob MacKinnon on January 25, 1977.
"Locke Is Dismissed as Braves' Coach," ''The Associated Press'' (AP), Tuesday, January 25, 1977.
Retrieved November 30, 2020
Prior to his Buffalo experience, Locke coached for United States Military Academy, West Point, where he hired a young assistant coach named Bobby Knight. Knight would later replace Locke when Locke left West Point. After West Point, Locke moved on to Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, winning a MAC title in 1968–69. Locke would subsequently coach at Clemson University, but would be forced to resign as the result of an National Collegiate Athletic Association, NCAA investigation into recruiting violations. The violation resulted in the Tigers being put on NCAA probation. He later coached at Jacksonville University and took them to an NCAA berth and National Invitation Tournament, NIT berth.
After assistant stints at UNLV and Indiana, Locke would accept the head coach vacancy at Indiana State University. In his first season, he doubled the win total of his predecessor; in his second season, the Sycamores finished the season at 14-14 (.500) and Locke would be named Missouri_Valley_Conference_Men%27s_Basketball_Coach_of_the_Year, MVC Coach of the Year. Though achieving modest success, he resigned under pressure after five seasons. He later worked as a scout and assistant general manager for the Portland Trail Blazers.
The movie ''Blue Chips'', starring Nick Nolte, is said to be based on Locke's career. However, several midwestern college coaches claim to be the inspiration for the character.
Head coaching record
College
References
*Locke, Tates and Ibach, B. (1982). ''Caught in the Net'' [autobiography]. Leisure Press.
External links
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1937 births
Living people
American men's basketball players
Army Black Knights men's basketball coaches
Basketball controversies
Buffalo Braves head coaches
Clemson Tigers men's basketball coaches
College men's basketball head coaches in the United States
Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball coaches
Indiana State Sycamores men's basketball coaches
Jacksonville Dolphins men's basketball coaches
Miami RedHawks men's basketball coaches
Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops men's basketball coaches
Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops men's basketball players
Portland Trail Blazers executives
Portland Trail Blazers scouts
UNLV Runnin' Rebels basketball coaches
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