Hall of Fame Cowboys - Oklahoma State University Athletics

Five Oklahoma State representatives have earned the highest honor in basketball - enshrinement in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. From Bob Kurland, who went into the Hall in 1961, to Eddie Sutton's selection in 2020, Cowboy basketball has made its pre-cense felt in the world of basketball. Among its peer schools in the Big 12, only Kansas has more Naismith Hall of Famers than Oklahoma State.

Four members of the Cowboy family have also earned a place in the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in Kansas City, Missouri. The Hall opened in 2006, and Mr. Henry Iba, Don Haskins and Bob Kurland were all enshrined in the inaugural class. Eddie Sutton earned his spot in the Hall in 2011.

Robert A. "Bob" Kurland

Naismith HOF Class of 1961
Collegiate HOF Class of 2006

A devastating force at 7-feet tall, Bob Kurland towered over opponents. Known as “Foothills,” Kurland was the first player in history to win two Olympic Gold Medals. In 1944, his ability to block and alter opponents’ shots changed the way basketball was played by forcing the NCAA to abolish shot blocking. Kurland starred on two Oklahoma A&M NCAA Championship teams under Hall of Fame coach Hank Iba and was named the tournament’s first two-time MVP in 1945 and 1946. After pondering a pro career, Kurland joined the AAU’s Phillips 66 Oilers in the 1946-47 season. During six All-America AAU seasons with Phillips, Kurland’s dominating play brought three national championships to the team.

Henry P. "Hank" Iba

Naismith HOF Class of 1969
Collegiate HOF Class of 2006

A coach’s coach, and mentor to such contemporary greats as Hall of Famer Bob Knight, Henry Iba did more than win national championships and gold medals. Although known for his victories as collegiate coach at Oklahoma A&M and as a three-time mentor of U.S. Olympic teams, Iba was more interested in the fundamental execution of the game and playing a true team sport than in scoring. Iba’s teams were methodical, ball-controlling units that featured weaving patterns of passing, which often led to low-scoring games. But his teams had such tight control of the ball, they didn’t need to score big to win the game. Behind dominating 7-foot Hall of Fame center Bob Kurland, Iba’s Aggies became the first team to win consecutive NCAA titles (1945 and 1946). Iba won 767 games, second best all-time when he retired.

Donald L. "Don" Haskins

Naismith HOF Class of 1997
Collegiate HOF Class of 2006

Known as “The Bear” for his robust build and stern manner, Coach Don Haskins always put the best five players on the floor regardless of race, creed, or color. But in 1966, when his all-black starting five Texas Western team (now UTEP) won the NCAA championship from Adolph Rupp’s all-white Kentucky team, Haskins changed college basketball forever and put a chink in the color lines for all sports. Haskins coached UTEP for 38 seasons. He compiled a 719-353 record, suffered only five losing seasons, and retired with the fourth best record in history. He won seven Western Athletic Conference championships, four WAC tournament titles, had fourteen NCAA tournament berths and made seven trips to the NIT. Haskins led UTEP to 17 20-plus win seasons and served as an assistant Olympic team coach in 1972.

Billy E. "Bill" Self, Jr.

Naismith HOF Class of 2017

Bill Self has proven himself more than capable of carrying on the great tradition of coaches who have passed through the University of Kansas, but the Edmond, Okla., native got his start as a Cowboy at Oklahoma State. Self played for OSU from 1981-85 and racked up 319 career assists, which still ranks 14th all-time in program history. He went on to serve as an assistant coach at both Kansas and OSU, and later served as the head coach at Oral Roberts, Tulsa and Illinois before taking over in Lawrence. Under Self, the Jayhawks have been one of the toughest and most consistent teams in college basketball, winning numerous Big 12 regular season and tournament titles as well as a pair of national championships in 2008 and 2022.

Eddie Sutton

Naismith HOF Class of 2020
Collegiate HOF Class of 2011

He was the first coach to take four different teams to the NCAA tournament. As a member of the prestigious 800 win club, Sutton left his most indelible mark on his alma mater, Oklahoma State. He was a player for legendary coach Hank Iba and he used lessons from his mentor to re-build the tradition rich Cowboy program. Sutton led his OSU teams to 14 NCAA Tournaments including the Final Four in 1995 and 2004 after taking over a program that made just three postseason appearances since 1957. In all, Sutton led Creighton, Arkansas, Kentucky and his alma mater, Oklahoma State, to a combined 26 NCAA Tournament appearances. In 37 seasons of Division I coaching, Sutton won 17 conference regular season and tournament championships.