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Glory Road: My Story of the 1966 NCAA Basketball Championship and How One Team Triumphed Against the Odds and Changed America Forever
Timed to the release of Jerry Bruckheimer's movie, the moving autobiography of Hall of Fame basketball coach Don Haskins and his storied team of players, the Texas Western Miners
In 1966, college basketball was almost completely segregated. In the championship game for the NCAA title that year, Don Haskins, coach of the then little-known Texas Western College, did something that had never been done before in the history of college basketball. He started five black players, and in the now legendary game, unseated the nationally top-ranked University of Kentucky. Broadcast on television throughout the country, the Miners victory became the impetus for the desegregation of all college teams in the South during the next few years.
Now, for the first time, Hall of Fame coach Don Haskins tell his story. Beginning as a small-town high school basketball coach, Haskins was known for his tough coaching methods and larger-than-life personality. As a child growing up during the Dust Bowl in Oklahoma, he developed a strong set of values and discipline that he would instill in his players throughout his coaching career. With recollections from his former players, including those of the 1966 team, along with Haskins's own Seven Principles for Success, Glory Road is the inspiring story of a living legend and one of the most respected coaches of all time.
With a foreword by basketball legend Bobby Knight, and coinciding with the release of the film Glory Road , the story of Don Haskins and his championship team is sure to become a classic for sports fans and historians.
In 1966, college basketball was almost completely segregated. In the championship game for the NCAA title that year, Don Haskins, coach of the then little-known Texas Western College, did something that had never been done before in the history of college basketball. He started five black players, and in the now legendary game, unseated the nationally top-ranked University of Kentucky. Broadcast on television throughout the country, the Miners victory became the impetus for the desegregation of all college teams in the South during the next few years.
Now, for the first time, Hall of Fame coach Don Haskins tell his story. Beginning as a small-town high school basketball coach, Haskins was known for his tough coaching methods and larger-than-life personality. As a child growing up during the Dust Bowl in Oklahoma, he developed a strong set of values and discipline that he would instill in his players throughout his coaching career. With recollections from his former players, including those of the 1966 team, along with Haskins's own Seven Principles for Success, Glory Road is the inspiring story of a living legend and one of the most respected coaches of all time.
With a foreword by basketball legend Bobby Knight, and coinciding with the release of the film Glory Road , the story of Don Haskins and his championship team is sure to become a classic for sports fans and historians.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
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December 22, 2021
Pioneers are great
in general it needs courage and strength for the first person who takes a right action reversing the prevailing and dominant at the community
Don Haskins was an American basketball player and coach
at sixties he chose 5 African American players in the team for the first time in a basketball national championship
he chose the best players whatever their colors to win the game
and it was also a winning against the white arrogant discrimination at that time particularly at south
that game had credit for breaking down racial walls in athletics
simple honest biography and of course full of basketball details
in general it needs courage and strength for the first person who takes a right action reversing the prevailing and dominant at the community
Don Haskins was an American basketball player and coach
at sixties he chose 5 African American players in the team for the first time in a basketball national championship
he chose the best players whatever their colors to win the game
and it was also a winning against the white arrogant discrimination at that time particularly at south
that game had credit for breaking down racial walls in athletics
simple honest biography and of course full of basketball details
September 26, 2008
Riveting, sometimes hilarious memoir of a gentle, kind, humble man who might just tear out someone's heart to win a basketball game. Full of folksy expressions such as "He couldn't play dead."
The full subtitle of this book is "My Story of the 1966 NCAA Basketball Championship and How One Team Triumphed Against the Odds and Changed America Forever." The subtitle has more bragging than the entire book.
Hear the wisdom of Coach Haskins:
On his birthplace of Enid, Oklahoma: “Boy, was it flat. You could go bowling outside. It was the kind of place you could sit on your front porch and watch your dog run away . . . for three days. You could stand on top of a can of soup and see Colorado. And was there dust? More than you could believe.”
On coaching boys’ and girls’ basketball: “To me, they were all just players. I hardly thought about whether they were boys or girls. I just wanted to win. So whatever the boys had to do, the girls had to do. . . . Players are players, doesn’t matter if it is a girl or a boy, a great player thrives on being pushed hard.”
“After the game, [Nevil] Shed came up to me crying. He was apologizing and begging and carrying on. He had called his mother from a pay phone and told her he was coming home, that he had been kicked off the team. He said his mother wanted to speak to me. I was in no mood to speak to anyone’s mother, but I respected that woman so much that I did it. I was expecting her to beg for forgiveness, to ask for Nevil to get a second chance. Most parents will automatically defend their children. His mother got on the phone and says, ‘Coach, make that boy walk home. Make him walk back to New York. Don’t even give him a ride to the bus station.’ Well, how can you throw a guy off the team with a mother like that? She was the best. She was angrier at Shed than I was. So I decided then and there to keep him on the team. I figured I was saving him from the whipping of his life. I did bench him for the start of the next game though.”
About the 1966 NCAA championship, in which he defeated all-white powerhouse Kentucky by starting five black players (a first in NCAA title game history) and playing only black players: “I certainly didn’t think I deserved a medal or anything. All I had done is exactly what a coach is supposed to do; I started my five best players.”
After the championship: “The game did have an impact, I must admit. Within a week of winning the national championship the hate mail flowed in by the garbage bucket. . . . the school estimated I received forty thousand pieces of mail. I sure as hell didn’t read them all. It took only a few for me to know what they all said.”
“A couple months after we won, Vanderbilt of the SEC recruited the first black basketball player and the floodgates opened. . . . Within five, six years everyone was recruiting black players because if they didn’t they wouldn’t be able to field a competitive team. Heck, even [Kentucky’s] Adolph Rupp eventually recruited a black player.”
“The players who go on to the NBA are the ones who make millions and get the media attention, but it’s the education so many of us (myself included) get while playing college sports that’s invaluable.”
“I get a lot of attention for being the first to start five black players in a game, but if it weren’t for all of the leaders in the black community who helped send these kids to me it never would have happened. There are countless heroes in this tale and I thank all of them, even if they sent their players to someone else. This wasn’t about just winning basketball games. This was about helping these young men, helping entire communities.”
“Allowing even a single easy basket would rip out my heart.”
“I just could not accept anything less than complete and total effort. No matter what the score was.”
“People were really excited about our team. El Paso had no other sports teams then and really no national identity at all. There were a couple of old country songs about El Paso, but I think most of the country thought it was located in Mexico. Which it damn near is.”
“My main concern at that point was getting guys to pass and on their way to that diploma. I didn’t want a bunch of bus drivers like I had been.”
“They may not be good enough to make me happy, but they’re good enough to be better than every other team in the country.”
The full subtitle of this book is "My Story of the 1966 NCAA Basketball Championship and How One Team Triumphed Against the Odds and Changed America Forever." The subtitle has more bragging than the entire book.
Hear the wisdom of Coach Haskins:
On his birthplace of Enid, Oklahoma: “Boy, was it flat. You could go bowling outside. It was the kind of place you could sit on your front porch and watch your dog run away . . . for three days. You could stand on top of a can of soup and see Colorado. And was there dust? More than you could believe.”
On coaching boys’ and girls’ basketball: “To me, they were all just players. I hardly thought about whether they were boys or girls. I just wanted to win. So whatever the boys had to do, the girls had to do. . . . Players are players, doesn’t matter if it is a girl or a boy, a great player thrives on being pushed hard.”
“After the game, [Nevil] Shed came up to me crying. He was apologizing and begging and carrying on. He had called his mother from a pay phone and told her he was coming home, that he had been kicked off the team. He said his mother wanted to speak to me. I was in no mood to speak to anyone’s mother, but I respected that woman so much that I did it. I was expecting her to beg for forgiveness, to ask for Nevil to get a second chance. Most parents will automatically defend their children. His mother got on the phone and says, ‘Coach, make that boy walk home. Make him walk back to New York. Don’t even give him a ride to the bus station.’ Well, how can you throw a guy off the team with a mother like that? She was the best. She was angrier at Shed than I was. So I decided then and there to keep him on the team. I figured I was saving him from the whipping of his life. I did bench him for the start of the next game though.”
About the 1966 NCAA championship, in which he defeated all-white powerhouse Kentucky by starting five black players (a first in NCAA title game history) and playing only black players: “I certainly didn’t think I deserved a medal or anything. All I had done is exactly what a coach is supposed to do; I started my five best players.”
After the championship: “The game did have an impact, I must admit. Within a week of winning the national championship the hate mail flowed in by the garbage bucket. . . . the school estimated I received forty thousand pieces of mail. I sure as hell didn’t read them all. It took only a few for me to know what they all said.”
“A couple months after we won, Vanderbilt of the SEC recruited the first black basketball player and the floodgates opened. . . . Within five, six years everyone was recruiting black players because if they didn’t they wouldn’t be able to field a competitive team. Heck, even [Kentucky’s] Adolph Rupp eventually recruited a black player.”
“The players who go on to the NBA are the ones who make millions and get the media attention, but it’s the education so many of us (myself included) get while playing college sports that’s invaluable.”
“I get a lot of attention for being the first to start five black players in a game, but if it weren’t for all of the leaders in the black community who helped send these kids to me it never would have happened. There are countless heroes in this tale and I thank all of them, even if they sent their players to someone else. This wasn’t about just winning basketball games. This was about helping these young men, helping entire communities.”
“Allowing even a single easy basket would rip out my heart.”
“I just could not accept anything less than complete and total effort. No matter what the score was.”
“People were really excited about our team. El Paso had no other sports teams then and really no national identity at all. There were a couple of old country songs about El Paso, but I think most of the country thought it was located in Mexico. Which it damn near is.”
“My main concern at that point was getting guys to pass and on their way to that diploma. I didn’t want a bunch of bus drivers like I had been.”
“They may not be good enough to make me happy, but they’re good enough to be better than every other team in the country.”
May 28, 2013
This book was astounding! Probably one of the best independant reading book I ever had with its heartbeat pounding and breath taking moments...Glory Road was excruitating! Coach Don had the best players that brought talent and determination to the floor to be the first black starters to win the NCAA Basketball championship in 1966. I guess you can say all the hard work payed off. Especially when all the hatred, all the discrimination, and all the racism that these black starters recieved from them selfish, unrespectful people that dislike colored people. Players thought the way Coach Don was teaching them were meaningless and outrageous. Until then they realize what was his whole point of teaching them that way. Coach Don did things that most coaches wouldn't do but exceed in his goal. I respect Coach Don for everything that he did. All time quote, Coach Don Haskins: You'll play basketball my way.
July 25, 2021
2.5*
There were some good parts, but overall I like the movie better. 😛
There were some good parts, but overall I like the movie better. 😛
March 12, 2015
Being a UTEP student, this book is now very important to me and was a must read.
While not the greatest prose, Glory Road is certainly a very enjoyable book that gave me a sense of place at the university by giving me a background of one of the most significant moments in the university's history. I've only recently started getting into basketball and Glory Road really allows the reader to get a deeper understanding of the sport and the way it runs in terms of coaches, the collegiate level, and recruiting, as well as the effort that goes into the whole thing.
I greatly enjoyed the stories related by Haskins. You can tell he was passionate about the sport and coaching in general and many of the stories are very funny. I would love to purchase a copy of this book and might do so for myself as a graduation present to myself in 2016. Having graduated from HS and been to basketball games and other events at the Don Haskins center, I'm certain that entering there or Memorial Gym will be so much more impactful now that I've read about some of the most important people in UTEP sports.
I highly recommend this book to sports fans and I truly think that all UTEP students should read it. This should be required reading for beginning English courses or the University class that everyone has to take. I'd dare even put it in a creative writing class as an example of non-fiction.
While not the greatest prose, Glory Road is certainly a very enjoyable book that gave me a sense of place at the university by giving me a background of one of the most significant moments in the university's history. I've only recently started getting into basketball and Glory Road really allows the reader to get a deeper understanding of the sport and the way it runs in terms of coaches, the collegiate level, and recruiting, as well as the effort that goes into the whole thing.
I greatly enjoyed the stories related by Haskins. You can tell he was passionate about the sport and coaching in general and many of the stories are very funny. I would love to purchase a copy of this book and might do so for myself as a graduation present to myself in 2016. Having graduated from HS and been to basketball games and other events at the Don Haskins center, I'm certain that entering there or Memorial Gym will be so much more impactful now that I've read about some of the most important people in UTEP sports.
I highly recommend this book to sports fans and I truly think that all UTEP students should read it. This should be required reading for beginning English courses or the University class that everyone has to take. I'd dare even put it in a creative writing class as an example of non-fiction.
May 15, 2007
The only thing this book has in common with the movie Glory Road is the title. A completely different book that tells the story of Coach Don Haskins from childhood to playing college ball for Henry Iba to coaching at Texas Western, later UTEP. Great book, quick read, really enjoyable. Fun fact: did you know there were actually two different Bobby Joe Hills who played for Texas Western?
July 13, 2009
I'm biased since I graduated from UTEP (Texas Western used to be it's name) where Don Haskins continues to be an institution.
April 10, 2024
If, like me, you are a basketball fanatic, you will love this book. I knew that Don Haskins was a highly respected coach and that his all-Black starting lineup Texas Western Miners beat all-white Kentucky for the 1966 NCAA championship, but I didn't know the kind of man that Haskins was. In this very readable autobiography (ghost-written by the talented Dan Wetzel), the reader meets some great kids who just needed a chance. Legendary coaches and players pop in and out, and the foreword written by one of them alone makes the book worth reading. There's even an appearance by a certain skinny young golfer, but you will have to read to the end to meet him. Some of Glory Road will make you furious, some will bring you to tears, and some will make you laugh out loud. Five stars from this old coach.
September 8, 2022
Funny how Haskins agreed to write this book simply to let people know he wasn’t the hero they thought he was, and he just played his best players, regardless of race…period.
The funny thing is, that in the telling of how little he cared about race, he reveals how much he cares about humans. He did the right thing time and time again, when no one was watching (so he thought), without telling a soul, and if not for Dan Wetzel’s investigative interviews with Haskins’ friends and family, we still wouldn’t know.
Oh, and the irony of the media and the role they played in the racial division, causing both white AND black people to send him hate mail regularly…the more things change, the more they stay the same!
The funny thing is, that in the telling of how little he cared about race, he reveals how much he cares about humans. He did the right thing time and time again, when no one was watching (so he thought), without telling a soul, and if not for Dan Wetzel’s investigative interviews with Haskins’ friends and family, we still wouldn’t know.
Oh, and the irony of the media and the role they played in the racial division, causing both white AND black people to send him hate mail regularly…the more things change, the more they stay the same!
January 12, 2024
i would recommend this book to older kids that like sports and kids who like eqaulity. I really enjoyed this book because of its powerful message and how inspiring the book it. It really shows what you can do when no one belives in you the book takes place in 1966 in the NCAA basketball championship and how the team with African Americans changed basketball for all races in America. i think the athour did a very great job explaining how every scenario went and they expalined it with great detail. I would have liked to see more emphasis in the writers work to add more emotion
October 19, 2017
I loved this book until the very end. The last few chapters were just very specific basketball statistics about games and players from 30 years ago. I didn't feel like you needed to be a basketball fan to enjoy this book until the very end. The last two chapters were brutal.
August 27, 2021
I really liked this book. Not just because it involved basketball, I like this book because it showed yet another example of what the life of African-Americans was like while they fought for equality. The way that the coach handled his players in their final game was very moving.
March 30, 2024
I love a sports autobiography 🏀 and one about college basketball is so fun! I am not sure everyone would love this—If you aren’t into college bball probably not. If you are; this is a great read. I loved learning about Coach Haskins younger days and the excitement of the NCAA tournament.
April 7, 2018
I adore this book for the way Haskins honestly looks at civil rights history through sports and his story. And how honest he is about just wanting to win and not be a civil rights icon.
August 25, 2018
I truly enjoyed this semi autobiographical story. I recommend reading it.
November 29, 2020
Don Haskins is a legend.
January 29, 2024
Glory Road is a phenomenal novel about the Texas Western team who prevailed to a national championship. Don Haskins was the coach of this Texas Western team.
February 28, 2017
Very solid read. Probably 4 1/2 stars.
The title is somewhat misleading. This is more or less - part biography / part 1966 championship team story.
Pretty entertaining throughout.
Simple and quick read.
The title is somewhat misleading. This is more or less - part biography / part 1966 championship team story.
Pretty entertaining throughout.
Simple and quick read.
January 4, 2012
Matt Lodato
11/21/11
Glory Road
By Coach Don Haskins with Dan Wetzel
248 pages (ages 13 and up)
Glory Road is the inspiring true story about the Texas Western basketball team changing America forever. The author of this book is a man named Dan Wetzel. He is a national sports columnist for Yahoo. Some of his most famous books that he has written are, Sole Influence, Glory Road, and Runnin' Rebel. The saying that Dan goes by when he writes is, “Get it right, and Make me see it.” This basically means that whenever he writes he feels it’s most important to make sure everything he says is accurate and makes sense. Also, he believes that whatever you write should be so descriptive he can see it.
This is a nonfiction book that is mainly written for kids or adults that are interested in learning about a time in the 1960’s where there was extreme segregation, or people that want to read about the topic of basketball. The purpose of this book is to show how one man and his team changed Americas segregation forever.
Glory road is the story about a little-known college called Texas Western. This book took place in 1966 when NCAA basketball was completely segregated. The coach of the Texas Western basketball team was Don Haskins. He did not care about segregation. All he wanted to do was lead the Minors to a National Championship. In order to clinch the NCAA tournament Texas Western had to beat the University of Kentucky. At the time this was one of the top college basketball teams. Don Haskins decided to do something crazy, something that will shock everybody in the south. He started five black players in this big game. Unexpectedly, the Texas Western Minors beat the University of Kentucky and desegregated all college teams in the South for the next few years.
When reading this book you will definitely notice how much the colored players on this team went through just to play in a single game. On and off the court these college kids were tormented by people that did not believe black people should be allowed to play in NCAA basketball. A major theme in this book that I noticed is that a little bit of passion can go a long way. In Glory Road, Coach Don Haskins was so passionate to win a national title that he found the best black players in the country and brought them to Texas Western. These black players were put on his team and he started them even though doing that was completely unheard of. The passion that Don Haskins had lead to desegregation in future NCAA tournaments and it lead up to a national championship for the Texas Western Minors. Overall, this was a great book that will inspire anybody.
11/21/11
Glory Road
By Coach Don Haskins with Dan Wetzel
248 pages (ages 13 and up)
Glory Road is the inspiring true story about the Texas Western basketball team changing America forever. The author of this book is a man named Dan Wetzel. He is a national sports columnist for Yahoo. Some of his most famous books that he has written are, Sole Influence, Glory Road, and Runnin' Rebel. The saying that Dan goes by when he writes is, “Get it right, and Make me see it.” This basically means that whenever he writes he feels it’s most important to make sure everything he says is accurate and makes sense. Also, he believes that whatever you write should be so descriptive he can see it.
This is a nonfiction book that is mainly written for kids or adults that are interested in learning about a time in the 1960’s where there was extreme segregation, or people that want to read about the topic of basketball. The purpose of this book is to show how one man and his team changed Americas segregation forever.
Glory road is the story about a little-known college called Texas Western. This book took place in 1966 when NCAA basketball was completely segregated. The coach of the Texas Western basketball team was Don Haskins. He did not care about segregation. All he wanted to do was lead the Minors to a National Championship. In order to clinch the NCAA tournament Texas Western had to beat the University of Kentucky. At the time this was one of the top college basketball teams. Don Haskins decided to do something crazy, something that will shock everybody in the south. He started five black players in this big game. Unexpectedly, the Texas Western Minors beat the University of Kentucky and desegregated all college teams in the South for the next few years.
When reading this book you will definitely notice how much the colored players on this team went through just to play in a single game. On and off the court these college kids were tormented by people that did not believe black people should be allowed to play in NCAA basketball. A major theme in this book that I noticed is that a little bit of passion can go a long way. In Glory Road, Coach Don Haskins was so passionate to win a national title that he found the best black players in the country and brought them to Texas Western. These black players were put on his team and he started them even though doing that was completely unheard of. The passion that Don Haskins had lead to desegregation in future NCAA tournaments and it lead up to a national championship for the Texas Western Minors. Overall, this was a great book that will inspire anybody.
March 22, 2014
This 254 page non fiction book really inspired me in many ways. It was about a young basketball player who was very good but busted his knee quite early in his career but was coached with discipline and values, which he used while coaching. It was quite sad for him but later on in his life he got a job offer to coach some very talented players in a collage called Texas Western. Due to the fact that this man, Dan Haskins was coaching a girls team from a small not well known school before, he was all ready and excited to take up the offer. Back in this time basketball was very segregated. African American's played with their own and the white people played with their own color as well. Dan didn't care about what people thought and recruited some very talented African Americans to play on his team. There were many ups and downs and challenges that the team faced in this book. Some of these challenges were because people didn't want African Americans around them. But because of the team's determination and talent they overcame all these challenges together. The team pulled through in many tough games because of the coaching and tough love that Haskins gave them. During the NCAA Championship Dan Haskins had done something that shocked everyone, and had officially changed basketball forever. He is a legend and one of the most respected coaches of all time.
This book is so inspirational because it really changed basketball everywhere forever. Now watching basketball you see a lot of African Americans playing with white people, but back then it was very different. The author did a great job explaining everything that happened in the book with good detail, that made you really feel for the people. For example, you could really feel the tension in the rooms with the African Americans and the hatred people had for them. The book was very intense towards the end, I really wanted to know what was going to happen. It was a very inspirational book, and I couldn't put it down.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a very inspirational story. Also, if they're into basketball, that's a plus. This book is all about basketball, and you can relate to some of the things that the team faced if you play basketball. It was an amazing book and I think maybe even coaches should read this book.
This book is so inspirational because it really changed basketball everywhere forever. Now watching basketball you see a lot of African Americans playing with white people, but back then it was very different. The author did a great job explaining everything that happened in the book with good detail, that made you really feel for the people. For example, you could really feel the tension in the rooms with the African Americans and the hatred people had for them. The book was very intense towards the end, I really wanted to know what was going to happen. It was a very inspirational book, and I couldn't put it down.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a very inspirational story. Also, if they're into basketball, that's a plus. This book is all about basketball, and you can relate to some of the things that the team faced if you play basketball. It was an amazing book and I think maybe even coaches should read this book.
April 11, 2016
Armand McGrue
3-30-16
Glory Road Book Review
This book was a real good attention grabber. The NCAA 1967 Championship Game, the game that started it all for African Americans. A real good thriller that involves the civil rights movement time period and how whites still had a hatred for African Americans. It shows how coach Don Haskins can bring white players and black players together and win a national title. No one thought it could be done he did the impossible.
The authors purpose of writing this autobiography is to entertain and inform the reader. All the historical events that happen and showing his view and experiences of coaching the Miners.
I like how in the book begins with Haskins younger years telling stories of his childhood and what led him into being a coach. Also his love for basketball and the respect he had for the game even though he wasn´t one of the best he always tried his hardest.
The crazy thing about this is the author of the book coached the team in 1967 name, Don Haskins. The other author didn´t coach the team, his name was Daniel Wetzel. Don Haskins team name was Texas-Western Miners. The five starters that Haskins went with were African Americans. They went on to beat five white starters from Kentucky in the championship game. This never was done before in history and they were the underdogs of the match. Adolph Rupp was the the coach for Kentucky.
Adolph Rupp was a bit racist. Before the Championship Game he told Don Haskins I bet you are thrilled to be here coach. The only reason he said that is because Don Haskins had African American players on his team. They traveled a lot on the road to different games and always had racial slures thrown at them, a boy named of Nevils Shed was jumped at a diner by two white boys and they were never found for the beating.
The author achieved my expectations of the book. He talks about his childhood and how he became a coach and how he use to coach girls basketball before being a college head coach.
It also show history in this book because these actions that took place were real and impacted history by the seven African Americans that were on the team. It show segregation, the love of the game, and a will to win. This book will always be useful and relates to my personal life because it shows to me that no matter what skin color you can beat the odds.
3-30-16
Glory Road Book Review
This book was a real good attention grabber. The NCAA 1967 Championship Game, the game that started it all for African Americans. A real good thriller that involves the civil rights movement time period and how whites still had a hatred for African Americans. It shows how coach Don Haskins can bring white players and black players together and win a national title. No one thought it could be done he did the impossible.
The authors purpose of writing this autobiography is to entertain and inform the reader. All the historical events that happen and showing his view and experiences of coaching the Miners.
I like how in the book begins with Haskins younger years telling stories of his childhood and what led him into being a coach. Also his love for basketball and the respect he had for the game even though he wasn´t one of the best he always tried his hardest.
The crazy thing about this is the author of the book coached the team in 1967 name, Don Haskins. The other author didn´t coach the team, his name was Daniel Wetzel. Don Haskins team name was Texas-Western Miners. The five starters that Haskins went with were African Americans. They went on to beat five white starters from Kentucky in the championship game. This never was done before in history and they were the underdogs of the match. Adolph Rupp was the the coach for Kentucky.
Adolph Rupp was a bit racist. Before the Championship Game he told Don Haskins I bet you are thrilled to be here coach. The only reason he said that is because Don Haskins had African American players on his team. They traveled a lot on the road to different games and always had racial slures thrown at them, a boy named of Nevils Shed was jumped at a diner by two white boys and they were never found for the beating.
The author achieved my expectations of the book. He talks about his childhood and how he became a coach and how he use to coach girls basketball before being a college head coach.
It also show history in this book because these actions that took place were real and impacted history by the seven African Americans that were on the team. It show segregation, the love of the game, and a will to win. This book will always be useful and relates to my personal life because it shows to me that no matter what skin color you can beat the odds.
Read
December 6, 2013The author, or authors', Don Haskins and Dan Wetzel, purpose of this book is to inform readers as well as entertain them. The authors talk about legendary coach Don Haskins' life and many interesting stories and things that happened in his life. The authors go very in depth into specific situations, for example, his practices as a high school girls' basketball coach.
There is no specific theme in this book, but one that was most apparent was to treat all people the same, no matter their race, gender, and background. For example, Haskins was criticized for playing black basketball players in a very segregated time. Also, Haskins was one of the only coaches who cared about a girls' high school basketball in the 1950's. These are just a couple of examples of how Coach Haskins treated everyone the same.
This book was an autobiography, but there were also many other people who contributed to the book by telling stories about Coach Haskins and how he effected their lives. The stories were narrated, and were in chronological order. The style of this book was phenomenal. The way the stories were structured and placed in the order they were was great. Each chapter started with a different person telling a story about Haskins, and it was followed by Don Haskins recollection or version of the story, which was always interesting.
In my opinion, this book was spectacular. It was one of the few autobiographies I have ever enjoyed. This was one of those books that once you picked it up, it had to be pried from your hands. I really liked all of the recollections of the stories by multiple people. It provided additional support for the truth of the stories, and often provided a good laugh. Honestly, I did not dislike any part of this book, nor would I change a single thing in the book. This book was so good that to me, it is incomparable to any other book I have ever read. The whole book was structured and told phenomenally, and could not be duplicated.
I would give this book a perfect 5 out of 5 stars because it was interesting, funny, and contained sports, which makes me enjoy any book even more. I would recommend this book to any sports lover, you will enjoy every word of it.
There is no specific theme in this book, but one that was most apparent was to treat all people the same, no matter their race, gender, and background. For example, Haskins was criticized for playing black basketball players in a very segregated time. Also, Haskins was one of the only coaches who cared about a girls' high school basketball in the 1950's. These are just a couple of examples of how Coach Haskins treated everyone the same.
This book was an autobiography, but there were also many other people who contributed to the book by telling stories about Coach Haskins and how he effected their lives. The stories were narrated, and were in chronological order. The style of this book was phenomenal. The way the stories were structured and placed in the order they were was great. Each chapter started with a different person telling a story about Haskins, and it was followed by Don Haskins recollection or version of the story, which was always interesting.
In my opinion, this book was spectacular. It was one of the few autobiographies I have ever enjoyed. This was one of those books that once you picked it up, it had to be pried from your hands. I really liked all of the recollections of the stories by multiple people. It provided additional support for the truth of the stories, and often provided a good laugh. Honestly, I did not dislike any part of this book, nor would I change a single thing in the book. This book was so good that to me, it is incomparable to any other book I have ever read. The whole book was structured and told phenomenally, and could not be duplicated.
I would give this book a perfect 5 out of 5 stars because it was interesting, funny, and contained sports, which makes me enjoy any book even more. I would recommend this book to any sports lover, you will enjoy every word of it.
March 27, 2014
Don Haskins memoir, Glory Road: My Story of the 1966 NCAA Basketball Championship and How One Team Triumphed Against the Odds and Changed America Forever, he recalls back to his season at Texas Western. Back in 1966 college basketball was primarily white. There had been many African-American basketball players prior to this team, and even started games at the division one level. This team, though, was slightly groundbreaking in the fact they were the first to start five black athletes in a national NCAA championship game.
But first, the book begins with Mr. Haskins coaching a small town, high school basketball team. Haskins developed tough minded drills and techniques, which he credited to his lessons he learned from living through the dust bowl in Oklahoma. Haskins eventually developed what was referred to as the Seven Principles of Success that he, his coaching staff, and players strived to achieve/help achieve. Haskins eventually took the college coaching job at Texas Western in El Paso, Texas. This college is now called the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). Back in 1966, this college wasn't known by many around the country, unlike college powerhouses such as Kansas, Kentucky and Iowa. This little known college ended up deifying an assumed college system of the time; black basketball didn't start, or even play, college basketball. Texas Western won their first 23 games of the regular season, but lost the last one. They made the tournament and won their first 4 games, one game against Cincinnati in overtime and another versus Kansas in double overtime. This ended up pitting the Texas western squad against Kentucky, where they would break history and change the college game forever.
I love this story because it’s the underdog, lesser known, lesser liked team overcoming the obstacles and achieving ultimate success that wouldn't just affect them but all of college basketball after that. This is a very historical event in terms of sports. I wasn't so much fond of the more autobiography type route this book takes, but it does give better insight on what actually happened. This book should be reader by older high schools students who are interested in sports and adversity.
But first, the book begins with Mr. Haskins coaching a small town, high school basketball team. Haskins developed tough minded drills and techniques, which he credited to his lessons he learned from living through the dust bowl in Oklahoma. Haskins eventually developed what was referred to as the Seven Principles of Success that he, his coaching staff, and players strived to achieve/help achieve. Haskins eventually took the college coaching job at Texas Western in El Paso, Texas. This college is now called the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). Back in 1966, this college wasn't known by many around the country, unlike college powerhouses such as Kansas, Kentucky and Iowa. This little known college ended up deifying an assumed college system of the time; black basketball didn't start, or even play, college basketball. Texas Western won their first 23 games of the regular season, but lost the last one. They made the tournament and won their first 4 games, one game against Cincinnati in overtime and another versus Kansas in double overtime. This ended up pitting the Texas western squad against Kentucky, where they would break history and change the college game forever.
I love this story because it’s the underdog, lesser known, lesser liked team overcoming the obstacles and achieving ultimate success that wouldn't just affect them but all of college basketball after that. This is a very historical event in terms of sports. I wasn't so much fond of the more autobiography type route this book takes, but it does give better insight on what actually happened. This book should be reader by older high schools students who are interested in sports and adversity.
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June 10, 2011I think a lot of different thoughts towards this book. This book was a really different book compared to the other books i have read. This book was a real fun but yet exciting book to read. I really thought that this book was going to leave my head to my reading table, which it did but only because i stayed up reading it to the point where i fell asleep on the spot. This book had a lot of different controversy in it being in the segregated times and all. But this book really helps you see racism in a whole different point of view. I really thought that a black and white teams couldn't get along in a basketball team back in those days, but this book proved me wrong. This book was really humorous in a lot of ways. I liked the part when the couch said, Hey, hey, Winnaker, Winnaker, do you want me to get you a skirt? I'll get you a skirt if you keep playing like a girl!" The reason for him saying that was to push and motivate the player that was not playing as well as the others. But basketball is not all about fancy tricks because when the couch saw that one of the players was doing a lot of fancy tricks but not much skill (this was before he was in the team, when they did not know each other.) he said, "Brother, without a little work I don't think you can get past an old timer like me" Then when Orsten tried to shake him he failed just because he was focusing more on his fancy tricks than on the way he actually played basketball. But what really hit me was when the couch said, You got a real talent son, why throw it away?" The guy had a lot of talent but was to stubborn to listen to the couch. That is what happens when you don't think with your head but with your stupid side.
December 2, 2013
The book I read was Glory Road. The author, Don Haskins, wrote this story to not only tell his life as a basketball star and coach but to show that when he coached he broke the NCAA rulings by starting 5 black players against an all-white Kentucky team demonstrating the importance of desegregating college basketball and change the civil rights movement around the country.
The theme of this book is to never judge someone by the color of their skin because you never know how much talent they may hold until you have faith in them and allow them to show what they are made of. Starting 5 black players in the championship game may have caused conflict with other people, but by doing that, Don Haskins played his best players which happened to be black and won a National Championship that year and helped desegregate college basketball.
I feel this book is written in a descriptive style. Don Haskins tells the story from the start of when he played basketball in Oklahoma and the hardships he went through as a player to get to where he was as a coach in Texas. He told how he worked his kids just as much as he did, and he told everything in order as how it went in his life until he coached his kids to win the NCAA Championship in 1966.
I think this was an excellent book. It’s a life changing story and teaches you lessons along the way as well as learning about racial discrimination. I wouldn’t change anything in this story. Don Haskins did a great job of describing his life stories and made it as if it were a movie walking through everything as you read on.
The theme of this book is to never judge someone by the color of their skin because you never know how much talent they may hold until you have faith in them and allow them to show what they are made of. Starting 5 black players in the championship game may have caused conflict with other people, but by doing that, Don Haskins played his best players which happened to be black and won a National Championship that year and helped desegregate college basketball.
I feel this book is written in a descriptive style. Don Haskins tells the story from the start of when he played basketball in Oklahoma and the hardships he went through as a player to get to where he was as a coach in Texas. He told how he worked his kids just as much as he did, and he told everything in order as how it went in his life until he coached his kids to win the NCAA Championship in 1966.
I think this was an excellent book. It’s a life changing story and teaches you lessons along the way as well as learning about racial discrimination. I wouldn’t change anything in this story. Don Haskins did a great job of describing his life stories and made it as if it were a movie walking through everything as you read on.
December 13, 2022
This was very interesting to read, after having seen the movie as well as the documentary about the 1966 championship.
July 26, 2013
Having watched the movie Glory Road several times, I decided to read Coach Haskins autobiography. It was interested to read what wasn't in the movie and compare what was added to the movie.
Coach Haskins was known for recruiting and playing black basketball players for Texas Western College (TWC) back in the mid 1960s. Back in those days, college basketball was almost completely segregated. In 1966, his team won the NCAA championship and he started five black players. This was unheard of for a little known team to win the championship and for a coach to play five black players at once, let alone start them. His actions set in motion the desegregation of all college teams in the south.
Turns out Don Haskins was very modest. His coaching philosophy was simple, he didn't see color, he saw players. He says that he didn't set out with the intention of being a racial savior, he went out with the intention to recruit basketball players and win games. He believed that every one of his players should graduate with a degree; which they all did except for a few. Coach Haskins, aka"the bear," had a long standing and respected career with TWC now known as UTEP (University of Texas El Paso). He retired from UTEP in 1999 and passed away in 2008. This book was published two years before his death.
Interesting read!
Coach Haskins was known for recruiting and playing black basketball players for Texas Western College (TWC) back in the mid 1960s. Back in those days, college basketball was almost completely segregated. In 1966, his team won the NCAA championship and he started five black players. This was unheard of for a little known team to win the championship and for a coach to play five black players at once, let alone start them. His actions set in motion the desegregation of all college teams in the south.
Turns out Don Haskins was very modest. His coaching philosophy was simple, he didn't see color, he saw players. He says that he didn't set out with the intention of being a racial savior, he went out with the intention to recruit basketball players and win games. He believed that every one of his players should graduate with a degree; which they all did except for a few. Coach Haskins, aka"the bear," had a long standing and respected career with TWC now known as UTEP (University of Texas El Paso). He retired from UTEP in 1999 and passed away in 2008. This book was published two years before his death.
Interesting read!
October 26, 2010
This book is a true story about the first team and coach to have ever played five starting black players on a team. The Coach who had put together this championship winning team was named Don Haskins and the college was Texas Western College. The five black players were from places like Michigan, New York and Indiana. This college wasnt well known so they couldnt get the best players in high school because they wouldnt come. Instead Don sends some recruits to the street courts from states in the north. They find the most talented not the most well known white players.
The five starters on the team were named Bobby Joe Hill, David Lattin, Orstin Artis, Willie Worsely, and then Willie Cager. This team went 23-1 in the regular season in the NCAA and went on to the NCAA tournament with a top 5 ranking. They had to beat teams like Cincinatti and Kansas who the UTEP Miners beat in double overtime 81-80 (Kansas) Then in then NCAA championship game they had to play the legendary Kentucky Wildcats who were the top ranked team overall coached by the legendary Adolph Rupp. Kentucky was an all white team who didnt like the fact that a team had five starting black players. There was no overtime the UTEP Minors won 75-67.
The five starters on the team were named Bobby Joe Hill, David Lattin, Orstin Artis, Willie Worsely, and then Willie Cager. This team went 23-1 in the regular season in the NCAA and went on to the NCAA tournament with a top 5 ranking. They had to beat teams like Cincinatti and Kansas who the UTEP Miners beat in double overtime 81-80 (Kansas) Then in then NCAA championship game they had to play the legendary Kentucky Wildcats who were the top ranked team overall coached by the legendary Adolph Rupp. Kentucky was an all white team who didnt like the fact that a team had five starting black players. There was no overtime the UTEP Minors won 75-67.
June 9, 2011
This book "Glory Road" was a good basketball book. It is based on a true event in 1966. I like Don Haskins mentality for coaching the Texas Western College. He only wanted basketball player that are willing to bust their butt and hungry for a championship. Texas Western wasn’t a big college they weren’t really known. Haskins was the first coach ever to start 5 African American. Of course no one like the way he coach because he had blacks on his team. He wanted talent on his team and I can’t blame him because he’s willing to do anything just to win the game he loves. Having black and whites on the team was hard enough to deal with but the media mad it harder. People made black feel unwanted and not wanting to play with whites. Don Haskins said “You'll play basketball my way. My way is hard.” I like how he was straight forward to the players saying that if you’re going to be on this team than you’re going to play his way and only his way. He picked people on the street for his team. The blacks had a lot of to think about. They had to see if they could really play and trust the whites on his team. Overall this was great. I would definitely recommend this to everyone because it showed so much power don Haskins had.
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February 14, 2011The book Glory Road is about the team from El Paso Texas. The teams was name Texas Western
college. The season before their hall of Fame coach reterea and then Texas Western College hire a coach name Don Haskins. In the season they were ranked in the top 25 to started the season. DOn Haskins rectruit some more black kids. Then the 1966 season no one if think the Texas Western would have made it to the title game and win the whole thing. In the title game it was 1vs.2. Texas Western was the first team in the title game that 5 black players started in the title game. Texas Western finished the year of 28-0 and ranked #1 in th eland. Don Haskins later went to the Hall of Fame in college Basketball. With the 5 black player open the rule book to allow black player to started a basketball game. The story is a real life story and now turn into a movie called Glory Road. The title game now will ever be in NCAA college basketball classic moment because of the starting 5 black player. The Miner 1966 players jersey are now restire and Don HAskines will never be forgotten in Miners basketball history. Now today Texas Western team has never ever won anotger title season that 1966 season.
college. The season before their hall of Fame coach reterea and then Texas Western College hire a coach name Don Haskins. In the season they were ranked in the top 25 to started the season. DOn Haskins rectruit some more black kids. Then the 1966 season no one if think the Texas Western would have made it to the title game and win the whole thing. In the title game it was 1vs.2. Texas Western was the first team in the title game that 5 black players started in the title game. Texas Western finished the year of 28-0 and ranked #1 in th eland. Don Haskins later went to the Hall of Fame in college Basketball. With the 5 black player open the rule book to allow black player to started a basketball game. The story is a real life story and now turn into a movie called Glory Road. The title game now will ever be in NCAA college basketball classic moment because of the starting 5 black player. The Miner 1966 players jersey are now restire and Don HAskines will never be forgotten in Miners basketball history. Now today Texas Western team has never ever won anotger title season that 1966 season.
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