Bud Millikan
Encyclopedia
Harold A. "Bud" Millikan (October 12, 1920 – January 28, 2010) was the head coach of the University of Maryland
Terrapins
men's basketball
team from 1950 to 1967. He compiled a 243–182 record. The former coach died on January 28, 2010 at the age of 89.
Millikan was born in Maryville, Missouri
and played on the Maryville High School basketball team that won the 1937 Missouri State High School Basketball Championship at a time when there were no divisions in state tournament play. He married his high school sweetheart Maxine. He followed Henry Iba
who had coached at Northwest Missouri State University
while Millikan was growing up in Maryville to Oklahoma A&M. At Oklahoma State He was an "All American", president of the student body and captain of the baseball and basketball teams. He was an assistant coach to Iba in its 1944 National Championship team. Iba gave him the nickname of "Buddy" which was shortened to "Bud." Millikan who had been a member of the Oklahoma State ROTC did not serve in World War II
because of asthma
. He returned to coach at Maryville High School and later other schools in Iowa. Iba arranged the meeting that brought Millikan to Maryland. After Iba returned to Missouri after the interview it was announced on the radio that Millikan had accepted an offer from Southwest Missouri State University although in fact he had not formally accepted the offer but it prompted Maryland to tell him they could pay him more.
Among his players at Maryland were Gary Williams
and Joe Harrington
. Williams in his autobiography “Sweet Redemption” wrote, “I played for a first-rate coach in Bud Millikan, but after that, nothing was first-rate in the Maryland basketball program…You couldn’t play for Bud Millikan unless you were willing to play hard on the defensive end of the court. In practice, we would practice two and half hours of defense and spend about ten minutes on offense.” According to the Daytona Beach Morning Journal, Millikan was "praised for his coaching ability but criticized as a recruiter of talent."
He coached the team to an NCAA Elite 8 appearance in 1958. During his time Cole Field House
was built. Millikan did not like the size of the field house saying at one point "It's like playing on a neutral court" with seats too far from the courts. His successor Lefty Driesell
added a few thousand seats around the court raising the hometown decibel level.
Every senior who played for him graduated from the school. He imposed a discipline where players were required wear the team blazer when traveling and in warm-ups players wore towels around their necks in an ascot-like manner.
Millikan resigned as the Maryland coach in 1967 and was replaced by his assistant, Frank Fellows.
He died in Roswell, Georgia
.
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
Terrapins
Maryland Terrapins
The Maryland Terrapins, commonly referred to as the Terps, consist of 27 men's and women's athletic teams that represent the University of Maryland, College Park in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I competition...
men's basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team from 1950 to 1967. He compiled a 243–182 record. The former coach died on January 28, 2010 at the age of 89.
Millikan was born in Maryville, Missouri
Maryville, Missouri
Maryville is a city in Nodaway County, Missouri, United States. The population was 10,581 at the 2000 census. The town, organized on February 14, 1845, was named for Mrs. Mary Graham, wife of Amos Graham, then the county clerk. Mary was the first Caucasian woman to have lived within the boundaries...
and played on the Maryville High School basketball team that won the 1937 Missouri State High School Basketball Championship at a time when there were no divisions in state tournament play. He married his high school sweetheart Maxine. He followed Henry Iba
Henry Iba
Henry Payne "Hank" Iba was an American basketball and baseball coach.-Early life:Iba was born and raised in Easton, Missouri...
who had coached at Northwest Missouri State University
Northwest Missouri State University
Northwest Missouri State University is a state university in Maryville, Missouri. Founded in 1905 as a teachers college, it offers both undergraduate and graduate programs. The campus, based on the design for Forest Park at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, is the official Missouri State Arboretum....
while Millikan was growing up in Maryville to Oklahoma A&M. At Oklahoma State He was an "All American", president of the student body and captain of the baseball and basketball teams. He was an assistant coach to Iba in its 1944 National Championship team. Iba gave him the nickname of "Buddy" which was shortened to "Bud." Millikan who had been a member of the Oklahoma State ROTC did not serve in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
because of asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
. He returned to coach at Maryville High School and later other schools in Iowa. Iba arranged the meeting that brought Millikan to Maryland. After Iba returned to Missouri after the interview it was announced on the radio that Millikan had accepted an offer from Southwest Missouri State University although in fact he had not formally accepted the offer but it prompted Maryland to tell him they could pay him more.
Among his players at Maryland were Gary Williams
Gary Williams
Gary B. Williams is an American university administrator and former college basketball coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Maryland, Ohio State University, Boston College, and American University. In 2002, he led Maryland to the NCAA Tournament Championship...
and Joe Harrington
Joe Harrington
Joe Harrington is an American basketball coach. He last served as the Director of Men's Basketball Student Services at the Maryland. Harrington served as the head coach at Hofstra University, George Mason University, California State University, Long Beach, and the University of Colorado...
. Williams in his autobiography “Sweet Redemption” wrote, “I played for a first-rate coach in Bud Millikan, but after that, nothing was first-rate in the Maryland basketball program…You couldn’t play for Bud Millikan unless you were willing to play hard on the defensive end of the court. In practice, we would practice two and half hours of defense and spend about ten minutes on offense.” According to the Daytona Beach Morning Journal, Millikan was "praised for his coaching ability but criticized as a recruiter of talent."
He coached the team to an NCAA Elite 8 appearance in 1958. During his time Cole Field House
Cole Field House
The William P. Cole, Jr. Student Activities Building, more commonly known as Cole Field House, was the home of the University of Maryland basketball teams from 1955 until it was replaced by Comcast Center in 2002...
was built. Millikan did not like the size of the field house saying at one point "It's like playing on a neutral court" with seats too far from the courts. His successor Lefty Driesell
Lefty Driesell
Charles Grice "Lefty" Driesell is an American former college basketball coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Maryland, Davidson College, James Madison University, and Georgia State University. During his 41-year coaching career, Driesell led teams from each school to the NCAA...
added a few thousand seats around the court raising the hometown decibel level.
Every senior who played for him graduated from the school. He imposed a discipline where players were required wear the team blazer when traveling and in warm-ups players wore towels around their necks in an ascot-like manner.
Millikan resigned as the Maryland coach in 1967 and was replaced by his assistant, Frank Fellows.
He died in Roswell, Georgia
Roswell, Georgia
Roswell is a city located in northern Fulton County; it is a suburb of northern Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The 2010 Census population was 88,346. It is the eighth largest city in Georgia...
.
Record
| Year | W | L | W/L Pct |
| 1950-51 | 15 | 10 | 0.600 |
| 1951-52 | 13 | 9 | 0.591 |
| 1952-53 | 15 | 8 | 0.652 |
| 1953-54 | 23 | 7 | 0.767 |
| 1954-55 | 17 | 7 | 0.708 |
| 1955-56 | 14 | 10 | 0.583 |
| 1956-57 | 16 | 10 | 0.615 |
| 1957-58 | 22 | 7 | 0.759 |
| 1958-59 | 10 | 13 | 0.435 |
| 1959-60 | 15 | 8 | 0.652 |
| 1960-61 | 14 | 12 | 0.538 |
| 1961-62 | 8 | 17 | 0.320 |
| 1962-63 | 8 | 13 | 0.381 |
| 1963-64 | 9 | 17 | 0.346 |
| 1964-65 | 18 | 8 | 0.692 |
| 1965-66 | 14 | 11 | 0.560 |
| 1966-67 | 11 | 14 | 0.440 |