Former Memphis State player and coach Larry Finch, the most beloved figure in the city’s rich basketball history, died on Saturday at the age of 60.
Finch had been in poor health since suffering the first of multiple strokes in 2001. He died at St. Francis Hospital according to his longtime friend Leonard Draper.
Finch, a Memphis native who played his high school basketball at Melrose, signed with the Tigers in 1969.
He remains the winningest basketball coach in Memphis’ history and was a member of the famed 1972-73 Tigers basketball team that made the school’s first Final Four appearance.
1972-73 Memphis State Basketball Team
Along with teammates Ronnie Robinson, Larry Kenon, Billy Buford, Bill Laurie, Wes Westfall, Clarence Jones and Bill Cook, Finch led Memphis State to the NCAA national championship game against the Bill Walton led UCLA Bruins.
Memphis State would fall to UCLA 87-66, a game where Finch scored 29 points and Walton went 21 of 22 from the floor.
Memphis State coach Gene Bartow and players Larry Finch, Ronnie Robinson and Larry Kenon following the Tigers Final Four win over Providence in 1973
After graduating from Memphis State, Finch was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1973, but opted to join the Memphis Tams, a franchise in the American Basketball Association.
Finch played professionally for two years with the Tams, the Memphis Sounds, the Baltimore Hustlers and Baltimore Claws.
He coached at Manassas High School for two years and then became an assistant coach for his mentor Gene Bartow during UAB’s inaugural season in 1978.
A year later, Finch would return to Memphis State as an assistant coach for the newly hired Dana Kirk.
When Kirk was forced to leave Memphis State after violating NCAA regulations, Finch was made head coach in 1986.
During his 11 seasons as the Tigers coach, Finch compiled a record of 220-130, with seven 20+ win seasons and six NCAA tournament appearances.
Finch was fired unceremoniously following the 1996-97 season after the Tigers finished 16-15.
I met Larry Finch during my freshman year in high school after a game we played at Manassas, and although the conversation was very brief he was cordial and complimented me on the game I played.
Finch and the 1972-73 Memphis State team brought together an entire city, and that team will forever be the greatest in the school’s history.
Larry Finch was more than a basketball player and coach, he was a pioneer in helping to bring unity to a city that has historically been divided by race.
Rest in peace Larry Finch.
