Ralph Tasker
Encyclopedia
Ralph Tasker was a high school boys' basketball coach. He coached for over 50 years, including 49 years at Hobbs High School in Hobbs, New Mexico. As head coach at Sulphur Springs (OH), Lovington (NM), and Hobbs, he compiled a win-loss record of 1122-291 (.794). He won twelve New Mexico Boys' State Basketball Championships: one with Lovington (1949) and eleven with Hobbs (1956, 1957, 1958, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1980, 1981, 1987, 1988). His other accomplishments include twice being named National High School Coach of the Year, induction into the National High School Sports Hall of Fame, and being chosen for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Morgan Wootten Award. The Hobbs Eagles' home gymnasium is named Ralph Tasker Arena in his honor. Known for employing a full-court press for the entire game, Tasker's teams were often high scoring, with his 1969-70 team averaging 114.6 points per game and recording 14 consecutive 100-point games, both national high school records.
on a basketball scholarship, Tasker became the head basketball coach at the high school in Sulphur Springs, Ohio
. However, he coached there for only one season before leaving to join the military in response to the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps for most of the next five years, being stationed in Missouri, Texas, and Kirtland Field in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
. Over three seasons in Lovington, he posted a 52-22 win-loss record, culminating in the 1949 New Mexico State Championship (all New Mexico schools competed in a single class at that time). Despite winning the state championship, Tasker was unhappy that Lovington High would not give him his own key to the gym, so he accepted an offer to become the head basketball coach in nearby Hobbs, New Mexico beginning with the 1949-50 season.
, Hobbs captured the 1956 and 1957 New Mexico State Championships. Then, despite losing all five starters to graduation, Hobbs won the title for a third consecutive season in 1958, proving that Tasker's "run and press" strategy was no fluke.
The 1962-63 and 1963-64 seasons saw Tasker's teams go 27-1 and 26-2 respectively, but both teams suffered 1-point defeats in the state championship game. The 1965-66 Eagles team proved to be one of Tasker's best, however, as they won the state championship and also posted a 26-0 record to give him his first undefeated season. Losing only four games in three seasons, Hobbs again captured state championships in 1968, 1969, and 1970, giving Tasker his second run of three-in-a-row. He was named National High School Coach of the Year in 1969 by the National High School Coaches Association, and the Eagles' home gymnasium was renamed Ralph Tasker Arena in his honor during the 1969-70 season. The 1969-70 Eagles team averaged 114.6 points per game and scored 100 points or more in 14 consecutive games, both national high school records.
After state runner-up finishes in 1971 and 1976, Tasker's Eagles again claimed back-to-back state championships in 1980 and 1981. His 1981 team posted a 26-0 record to give him his second undefeated season. In 1980 he was named National High School Coach of the Year by the National Sports News Service. After winning back-to-back state titles again in 1987 and 1988, Tasker's number of New Mexico State Championships with Hobbs High was set at eleven.
On January 29, 1993 Tasker recorded win number 1027 to move into first place on the All-Time Wins list among high school basketball coaches. However, Robert Hughes (basketball coach)
and Morgan Wootten
have since passed him on that list. After retiring following the 1997-98 season, his final win-loss record stands at 1122-291 (.794). In 2009, he was posthumously awarded the Morgan Wootten Lifetime Achievement Award by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
.
is a former Hobbs Eagle player under Tasker, and Nolan Richardson
credits Tasker with inspiring the "40 Minutes of Hell" defense which he popularized at the University of Arkansas. Russ Gilmore, who succeeded Tasker as head basketball coach at Hobbs High and who has won five New Mexico State Championships of his own, credits Tasker with helping him assume control of the program. Hall of Fame Coach Morgan Wootten has said of Tasker, "Ralph was a true pioneer of the game at the high school level, and his lasting impact of the thousands of lives he touched over his 53 years will never be forgotten."
Sulphur Springs (OH) 1940-41
After attending Alderson-Broaddus CollegeAlderson-Broaddus College
Alderson–Broaddus College — informally known as "A–B" — is a private, four-year liberal arts college affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA and the West Virginia Baptist Convention located in Philippi, West Virginia, USA...
on a basketball scholarship, Tasker became the head basketball coach at the high school in Sulphur Springs, Ohio
Sulphur Springs, Ohio
Sulphur Springs is an unincorporated community in eastern Liberty Township, Crawford County, Ohio, United States. Although it is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 44881. Also, there is a volunteer fire station, a closed school, and a pheasant farm. It is located along...
. However, he coached there for only one season before leaving to join the military in response to the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps for most of the next five years, being stationed in Missouri, Texas, and Kirtland Field in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Lovington (NM) 1946-49
After World War II, Tasker became the head basketball coach at Lovington High School in Lovington, New MexicoLovington, New Mexico
Lovington is a city in and the county seat of Lea County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 9,471 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lovington is located at ....
. Over three seasons in Lovington, he posted a 52-22 win-loss record, culminating in the 1949 New Mexico State Championship (all New Mexico schools competed in a single class at that time). Despite winning the state championship, Tasker was unhappy that Lovington High would not give him his own key to the gym, so he accepted an offer to become the head basketball coach in nearby Hobbs, New Mexico beginning with the 1949-50 season.
Hobbs (NM) 1949-98
Tasker's career at Hobbs High School began slowly, with losses in his first three games and mixed results in his first six seasons overall. In the 1955-56 season, however, Tasker began instructing his players to apply full-court press defense for the entire game. At the time, most coaches only resorted to the press after their teams had fallen behind, but the well-conditioned Eagles saw positive results from the frantic, up-tempo style immediately. Led by future All-American and NBA All-Star Bill Bridges (basketball)Bill Bridges (basketball)
William C. "Bill" Bridges is a retired American basketball player.A 6'6" power forward from the University of Kansas, he spent 13 seasons in the National Basketball Association as a member of the St. Louis/Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers, and Golden State Warriors...
, Hobbs captured the 1956 and 1957 New Mexico State Championships. Then, despite losing all five starters to graduation, Hobbs won the title for a third consecutive season in 1958, proving that Tasker's "run and press" strategy was no fluke.
The 1962-63 and 1963-64 seasons saw Tasker's teams go 27-1 and 26-2 respectively, but both teams suffered 1-point defeats in the state championship game. The 1965-66 Eagles team proved to be one of Tasker's best, however, as they won the state championship and also posted a 26-0 record to give him his first undefeated season. Losing only four games in three seasons, Hobbs again captured state championships in 1968, 1969, and 1970, giving Tasker his second run of three-in-a-row. He was named National High School Coach of the Year in 1969 by the National High School Coaches Association, and the Eagles' home gymnasium was renamed Ralph Tasker Arena in his honor during the 1969-70 season. The 1969-70 Eagles team averaged 114.6 points per game and scored 100 points or more in 14 consecutive games, both national high school records.
After state runner-up finishes in 1971 and 1976, Tasker's Eagles again claimed back-to-back state championships in 1980 and 1981. His 1981 team posted a 26-0 record to give him his second undefeated season. In 1980 he was named National High School Coach of the Year by the National Sports News Service. After winning back-to-back state titles again in 1987 and 1988, Tasker's number of New Mexico State Championships with Hobbs High was set at eleven.
On January 29, 1993 Tasker recorded win number 1027 to move into first place on the All-Time Wins list among high school basketball coaches. However, Robert Hughes (basketball coach)
Robert Hughes (basketball coach)
Robert Hughes is a former high school basketball coach. From 1973 to 2005 he coached at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Fort Worth, Texas. He previously coached at I.M. Terrell High School in Fort Worth during segregation. After segregation ended and I.M. Terrell was shut down, Mr...
and Morgan Wootten
Morgan Wootten
Morgan Bayard Wootten is an American former high school basketball coach.From 1956 to 2002, he coached at DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland. He has the most wins as a head coach in the history of basketball on any level. A number of his players went on to play in the NBA,...
have since passed him on that list. After retiring following the 1997-98 season, his final win-loss record stands at 1122-291 (.794). In 2009, he was posthumously awarded the Morgan Wootten Lifetime Achievement Award by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Personal life
Tasker was married to Margaret Marple Tasker for 49 years, from October 1941 to January 1991, when she died. They had three children: Nancy, Diane, and Tim. As a teacher at Hobbs High School, he taught Social Studies and Government and was named Teacher of the Year three times. He is buried in Prairie Haven Cemetery in Hobbs, New MexicoHobbs, New Mexico
Hobbs is a city in Lea County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 28,657 at the 2000 census.Hobbs is the principal city of the Hobbs, New Mexico Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Lea County.-Geography:...
.
Legacy
As head basketball coach at Hobbs High School, Ralph Tasker was largely responsible for creating one of the most successful high school basketball programs in the United States. Dozens of former Hobbs players have received NCAA scholarships, and thirteen have been drafted by NBA teams. NCAA coach Rob EvansRob Evans
Robert Oran Evans is an American college basketball coach. He served as head coach at the University of Mississippi from 1992 to 1998, and as the head coach of Arizona State University from 1998 to 2006. He is a current assistant coach for the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs.Evans was...
is a former Hobbs Eagle player under Tasker, and Nolan Richardson
Nolan Richardson
Nolan Richardson is an American basketball head coach, who was elected to the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. He has coached teams to winning a NCAA Men's Division I Basketball National Championship, a NIT, and a Junior College National Championship, the only coach to do so. Most...
credits Tasker with inspiring the "40 Minutes of Hell" defense which he popularized at the University of Arkansas. Russ Gilmore, who succeeded Tasker as head basketball coach at Hobbs High and who has won five New Mexico State Championships of his own, credits Tasker with helping him assume control of the program. Hall of Fame Coach Morgan Wootten has said of Tasker, "Ralph was a true pioneer of the game at the high school level, and his lasting impact of the thousands of lives he touched over his 53 years will never be forgotten."