| Coach Joel Eaves is shown moments after Auburn defeated
Alabama 63-61 in overtime in 1960 to clinch its only regular-season Southeastern
Conference basketball championship. Players include David Vaughn
(30) and John Helmlinger (40). During the two preceding seasons,
the Tigers placed second in the SEC, winning a school record 30 consecutive
games over one stretch. Eaves's teams won 213 games, lost 100, and
never had a losing season during his 14 years. Eaves was assisted
by Bill Lynn, later head coach. In 1980, Eaves and two of his winningest
players, Henry Hart and Rex Frederick, were the first persons named to
the University's Basketball Hall of Honor by the AU Tip-Off Club.
During most of his Auburn years, Eaves also served as defensive end coach
and head football scout. He later became the athletic director at
the University of Georgia. In September 1987, Auburn's Memorial Coliseum
was renamed Eaves-Memorial Coliseum to honor Eaves and to continue to honor
some 250 Auburn alumni "who made the supreme sacrifice for their country
in the four wars of this century." It became Beard-Eaves-Memorial
Coliseum in 1993, in recognition of Jeff Beard, Auburn athletic director
for 21 years. -- Photo: AU Archives |
