Floyd Burdette

Floyd B. Burdette (September 5, 1914 – December 1, 1995) was a head coach for both the Alabama and Tennessee–Martin Skyhawks men's basketball teams. Born in Martin, Tennessee, Burdette played college basketball for one season at UT Junior College and three at Murray State University from 1935 to 1938. In all four season he competed, Burdette led his team in scoring and was an all-conference selection. He then attended Oklahoma A&M where he both coached and played in 1944 before he began his head coaching career.

Floyd Burdette

Biographical details
Born	(1914-09-05)September 5, 1914 Martin, Tennessee, U.S.
Died	December 1, 1995(1995-12-01) (aged 81) Martin, Tennessee, U.S.
Alma mater	Murray State Oklahoma A&M
Playing career
1935	UT–Martin
1936–1938	Murray State
1943–1944	Oklahoma A&M
Position(s)	Center
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1939–1940	Oklahoma A&M (assistant)
1946–1952	Alabama
1952–1971	UT–Martin
Head coaching record
Overall	278–260

Early life

Burdette was born at Martin, Tennessee on September 5, 1914.^[1] He attended UT Junior College (now known as the University of Tennessee at Martin) in 1935 where he was a member of the basketball team.^[2] Burdette led the Mississippi Valley Conference in scoring and was a selection to the all-conference squad, but transferred to Murray State University after the season.^[2] As a member of the Racers squad for the 1936, 1937 and 1938 seasons, Burdette was both their leading scorer and was selected All-SIAA in each season.^[3]

After he graduated from Murray State, Burdette went to graduate school at Oklahoma A&M (now known as Oklahoma State University) in 1939.^[4] As he pursued his master's degree in physical education, Burdette coached the Cowboys freshman team. He then played for the Oklahoma City 89ers AAU basketball team in Oklahoma City before he returned to Oklahoma A&M to head the school's air crew training program during World War II.^[4] As a result of changes to eligibility requirements for participation in intercollegiate athletics due to the war, Burdette played for Henry Iba as a center on the 1943–44 Oklahoma A&M basketball squad.^[4][5]

Coaching career

Burdette served as head men's basketball coach at Alabama from 1946 through 1952. During his six-season tenure with the Crimson Tide, he amassed an overall record of 81 wins and 59 losses (81–59).^[6] After he left Alabama, Burdette returned to his hometown and coached at the University of Tennessee at Martin from 1952 to 1971. During his nineteen-year tenure with the Pacers, he amassed an overall record of 197 wins and 201 losses (197–201) and the 1970 Volunteer State Athletic Conference championship.^[7]

Head coaching record

Statistics overview

Season	Coach	Overall	Conference	Standing	Postseason
Alabama Crimson Tide (Southeastern Conference) (1946–1952)
1946–47	Alabama	16–6	13–5	4th
1947–48	Alabama	15–12	8–8	4th
1948–49	Alabama	13–12	9–9	6th
1949–50	Alabama	9–12	8–9	5th
1950–51	Alabama	15–8	10–4	2nd
1951–52	Alabama	13–9	9–5	2nd
Alabama:		81–59	57–40
Tennessee–Martin Skyhawks (Independent) (1952–1960)
1952–53	Tennessee–Martin	7–9
1953–54	Tennessee–Martin	15–3
1954–55	Tennessee–Martin	14–4
1955–56	Tennessee–Martin	13–6
1956–57	Tennessee–Martin	7–13
1957–58	Tennessee–Martin	8–2
1958–59	Tennessee–Martin	9–13
1959–60	Tennessee–Martin	10–9
Tennessee–Martin Skyhawks (Volunteer State Athletic Conference) (1960–1971)
1960–61	Tennessee–Martin	13–10	7–5
1961–62	Tennessee–Martin	13–11	8–6
1962–63	Tennessee–Martin	12–12	6–4
1963–64	Tennessee–Martin	11–10	8–4
1964–65	Tennessee–Martin	11–13	6–6
1965–66	Tennessee–Martin	12–8	7–2
1966–67	Tennessee–Martin	11–13	6–1
1967–68	Tennessee–Martin	3–18	3–7
1968–69	Tennessee–Martin	8–12	5–5
1969–70	Tennessee–Martin	14–12	6–4
1970–71	Tennessee–Martin	3–20	0–9
Tennessee–Martin:		197–201	62–53
Total:		278–260
National champion         Postseason invitational champion         Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion       Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion       Conference tournament champion

References

1. "Individual Record: Floyd Burdette". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
2. "Hall of Fame: Floyd Burdette". University of Tennessee at Martin. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
3. "Hall of Fame: Floyd Burdette". Murray State University. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
4. "Oklahoma not new to Floyd Burdette". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. December 22, 1949. p. 12. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
5. "All-Time Roster". (PDF). Stillwater, Oklahoma: Oklahoma State University Athletics Media Relations Office. 2007. p. 164. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
6. "Year by Year Results Breakdown". (PDF). Tuscaloosa, Alabama: University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office. 2005. p. 120. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
7. "All-Time Coaches". 2011–12 University of Tennessee at Martin Men’s Basketball Media Guide (PDF). Martin, Tennessee: University of Tennessee at Martin Athletics Media Relations Office. 2011. p. 78. Retrieved April 25, 2012.