A MID-SOUTH REGION AND CITY OF MEMPHIS ICON AND TIGERS BASKETBALL LEGEND, FORMER PLAYER AND HEAD COACH LARRY FINCH PASSED AWAY APR. 2, 2011, AFTER SUFFERING WITH A NUMBER OF MEDICAL ISSUES OVER RECENT YEARS.
Larry Finch was one of just a handful of college coaches in NCAA history to help lead his alma mater to a Final Four, have his university retire his jersey and become that school's all-time winningest coach. In his 11 years at the helm. Finch had seven 20-win seasons, made six NCAA Tournament appearances and amassed an impressive 220-130 record.
Before his coaching days, Finch wore the Blue and Gray from 1970-73 and finished his playing career as the school's all-time leading scorer with 1,869 points (now No. 4 on the career list). Finch was the catalyst in Memphis reaching the NCAA Final Four for the first time in 1973 when the Tigers lost to UCLA in the national title game.
LARRY FINCH TRIBUTE
In Finch's three playing years, the Tigers had a 63- 21 record and either won or tied for two Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) crowns. He earned All- American honors from both Associated Press and United Press International, and was also named to four other All-America teams his senior season. Finch was the MVC Player of the Year in 1972 and the league's Newcomer of the Year in 1971. He was inducted into the Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame in 2001.
2012 Tigers Men's Basketball Yearbook
Page 45
University of Memphis
