March 29, 2001
Audio: Charlie Spoonhour accepts the head coaching position at UNLV
Video: Charlie Spoonhour accepts the head coaching position at UNLV
Video: Charlie Spoonhour on how he is going to change the face of the UNLV basketball program
LAS VEGAS - Longtime successful coach Charlie Spoonhour has been named to take over the UNLV men's basketball program, school president Dr. Carol C. Harter announced Thursday.
The 12th head coach in Runnin' Rebel history, Spoonhour comes to UNLV boasting a 16-year Division I career record of 319-171 (.651), and a three-year contract will be presented to the Board of Regents at its April 19-20 meeting.
"In Charlie Spoonhour we have an excellent new head coach for the Runnin' Rebel basketball program," Harter said. "I am confident that he will not only win games, but he will also help restore the integrity of this program through strict compliance with NCAA regulations. He has a proven record in big-time college basketball, and I know he will rekindle the excitement and enthusiasm for Rebel basketball that has characterized this community for many years."
Spoonhour, 61, most recently spent seven years as the head coach at Saint Louis University and finished his career third on the school's career victories list with a mark of 122-90 (.575). Spoonhour retired from Saint Louis on March 5, 1999, after heading into his final season ranking 26th among active NCAA Div. I coaches (minimum 10 years) in winning percentage with a .662 mark.
During his tenure, he led the Billikens to postseason tournaments in four seasons with three trips to the NCAA tournament and one NIT bid. When Saint Louis earned a spot in the 1994 tournament, it was the school's first such trip since 1957. That same season, the Billikens also climbed into the national rankings for the first time in 37 years, which earned Spoonhour national coach of the year honors from the U.S. Basketball Writers Association. Spoonhour's success also helped the Billikens rank among the nation's top 10 in attendance, including averaging 17,708 fans in 1997-98.
In a 37-year coaching career that began at Rocky Comfort (Mo.) High School, he has compiled a cumulative head coaching record of 696-280 (.713). Before arriving at Saint Louis, he made his reputation as a college coach at Southwest Missouri State where he directed the Bears to five NCAA tournaments and two NIT bids in nine seasons.
"I felt a responsibility to recommend a person for this job that was the right fit for the program, the University and the community," UNLV Athletics Director Charles Cavagnaro said. "I am excited about the possibilities that Coach Spoonhour brings. I watched closely the job he did at Saint Louis and it was nothing short of miraculous."
Spoonhour spent eight seasons grooming his talents at the junior college level at both Moberly (Mo.) Junior College and Southeastern Community College in West Burlington, Iowa.
"I am thrilled to be here," Spoonhour said. "I appreciate the opportunity that Dr. Harter and Charlie have given me and hopefully we can get on the same page and make this a wonderful experience for everybody."
He is a member of four halls of fame - Springfield (Mo.) Hall of Fame (1997), Missouri Sports Hall of Fame (1994), Moberly Junior College Basketball Hall of Fame (1983) and the National Junior College Basketball Hall of Fame (1991).
Born June 23, 1939, in Mulberry, Kansas, Spoonhour was raised in Rogers, Ark. He graduated from the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Ark., in 1961 with a bachelor's degree in physical education and later earned his master's in education in 1972 from the University of Arkansas. He is married to the former Vicki Korner and has two sons from a previous marriage: Jay (30), who works as a basketball coach, and Stephen (26).
CHARLIE SPOONHOUR COACHING RECORD
DIVISION I HEAD COACH (16 YEARS)
YEAR SCHOOL W-L CONF. FINISH POSTSEASON
1998-99 Saint Louis 15-16 4th in C-USA Div.1997-98 Saint Louis 22-11 3rd in C-USA Div. NCAA 2nd Round1996-97 Saint Louis 11-18 3rd in C-USA Div.1995-96 Saint Louis 16-14 3rd in C-USA Div. NIT 1st Round1994-95 Saint Louis 23-8 2nd in Great Midwest NCAA 2nd Round1993-94 Saint Louis 23-6 2nd in Great Midwest NCAA 1st Round1992-93 Saint Louis 12-17 6th in Great Midwest1991-92 SMS 23-8 MVC tourney champ NCAA 1st Round1990-91 SMS 22-12 2nd in MVC NIT 1st Round1989-90 SMS 22-7 AMCU champ NCAA 1st Round1988-89 SMS 21-10 AMCU champ NCAA 1st Round1987-88 SMS 22-7 AMCU champ NCAA 1st Round1986-87 SMS 28-6 AMCU champ NCAA 2nd Round1985-86 SMS 24-8 2nd in AMCU NIT quarterfinals1984-85 SMS 17-13 4th in AMCU1983-84 SMS 18-10 3rd in AMCU
DIVISION I ASSISTANT COACH (7 YEARS)
1982-83 Nebraska 22-10 NIT semifinals1981-82 Nebraska 16-121974-75 Oklahoma 13-131971-72 SMS 12-12 MIAA runner-up1970-71 SMS 9-161969-70 SMS 17-11 MIAA champ NCAA Regional1968-69 SMS 24-5 MIAA champ NCAA Div. II runner-up
JUNIOR COLLEGE RECORD (205-63, .765)
1980-81 SE CC 26-8 National JUCO tourney - 12th place1979-80 SE CC 22-81978-79 SE CC 31-5 National JUCO tourney - 8th place1977-78 SE CC 17-141976-77 SE CC 22-61975-76 SE CC 29-5 National JUCO tourney - 5th place1973-74 Moberly JC 32-8 National JUCO tourney - 3rd place1972-73 Moberly JC 26-9
HIGH SCHOOL RECORD (172-46, .789)
1967-68 Salem High 25-51966-67 Bloomfield High 26-71965-66 Bloomfield High 32-31964-65 Bloomfield High 34-21963-64 Bloomfield High 24-81962-63 Rocky Comfort High 19-91961-62 Rocky Comfort High 12-12
CUMULATIVE COACHING RECORD 696-280 (.713)
CAREER COACHING TIMELINE:
1961-63: Head Coach, Rocky Comfort (Mo.) High School, 1963-67: Co-Coach, Bloomfield (Mo.) High School, 1967-68: Head Coach, Salem (Mo.) High School, 1968-72: Assistant Coach, Southwest Missouri State University, 1972-74: Head Coach, Moberly (Mo.) Junior College, 1974-75: Assistant Coach, University of Oklahoma, 1975-81: Head Coach, Southeastern Community College (West Burlington, Iowa), 1981-83: Assistant Coach, University of Nebraska, 1983-1992: Head Coach, Southwest Missouri State, 1992-1999: Head Coach, Saint Louis (Mo.) University.
CAREER COACHING AWARDS
1993-94 U.S. Basketball Writers Henry Iba Award winner as national men's coach of the year, 1993-94 ESPN/RCA national men's coach of the year, 1993-94 Naismith Award Finalist for men's national coach of the year, 1993-94 Basketball Times All-Plains Co-Coach of the Year, Mid-Continent Coach of the Year at SMSU, 1984, 1987 and 1988, Conference Coach of the Year at Salem, 1968, regional coach of the year at Moberly, 1974 and at Southeastern Iowa, 1976, 1979 and 1981.
COMMENTS ABOUT NEW UNLV MEN'S BASKETBALL HEAD COACH CHARLIE SPOONHOUR
UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI HEAD COACH BOB HUGGINS:
"What a great move for UNLV. Charlie is one of the true gentlemen of our profession. His teams are always incredibly well prepared. He has a gift for breaking down the other team's tendencies and devising ways to combat those. His teams always play hard and they rebound much better than he did as a player."
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS HEAD COACH NOLAN RICHARDSON:
"Charlie Spoonhour is a tremendous basketball coach. We have known each other and coached against each other going all the way back to our junior college days when we played one another to go the JC final four. To get Spoonhour at UNLV, that is a great hire. He will get the job done. He is a super coach, recruiter and communicator."
OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY HEAD COACH EDDIE SUTTON:
"I've known Charlie Spoonhour for a long, long time and I consider him to be one of the outstanding coaches that we have had in the college ranks. He is a longtime friend of mine and he is a winner in every way. People at UNLV will be very pleased with his coaching ability as well as everything else he brings to the table. It's a good match for both the school and for Coach Spoonhour.
PHILADELPHIA 76ers HEAD COACH LARRY BROWN:
"Charlie is a terrific coach. He's got a wonderful personality and you'll never meet anybody funnier. I couldn't recommend him more highly."
SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT LAWRENCE BIONDI:
"Coach Spoonhour's competitive spirit and positive personality energized our athletic program for seven years, and we will always be grateful. He is the role model of a coach at the NCAA Division I level - a gentleman with great integrity who has had a positive impact on the student-athletes who have played for him. His players left this university not only better athletes, but better people."
