We all know the movie Glory Road but not many know the man behind the story. Don Haskins was a man who positively affected the lives of all the people around him and unintentionally changed the way in which the game of basketball was played. During the 1966 national NCAA championship when playing the University of Kentucky, an all-white team, Haskins started five black players. Later in his career he stated that "he wasn't out to be a pioneer when we played Kentucky. I was simply playing the best players on the team, and they happened to be black." This kind of coaching style was not present during this time in his carrier and it made it so much easier for others to follow in his footsteps. When asked about what shaped his views on race Don often mentioned his friend Herman Carr, who he played one-on-one against during his youth in Enid. What Don Haskins could not understand how he how he got all the publicity and scholarships while Carr ended up joining the army.
It's easy to see how this man changed the lives of the people around him. He was a pioneer of his time and he will surely be missed.
Los Angeles Times
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