patrick s. fischler played don haskins in the movie glory road.
who played don haskins in the movie glory road?
patrick s. fischler
"glory road", a disney film about the then-texas western 1966 championship season, was released on january 13, 2006. haskins is portrayed in the film by actor josh lucas. on november 29, 2005, the city of el paso renamed the street between its two basketball arenas "glory road." adolph rupp, jr., pointed out that his father had previously used the term "glory road" in his farewell speech to his fans and worried that his father would be villainized in the film. however, director jim gartner stated that rupp sr. would not be negatively portrayed in the film, claiming that jon voight, who played rupp, was careful in his role, seeking not to mischaracterize rupp as a racist.
don haskins
utep was the first college in the american south to integrate its intercollegiate sports programs. this change was made in the 1950s. when don haskins became basketball coach in 1961, he aggressively recruited black players. in 1966, haskins' miners won the ncaa basketball championship, defeating an all-white kentucky team in the final game. in 1966, at a time when many claimed black players lacked the mental and emotional "necessities" to compete at a high level, the utep miners coach don haskins put his usual starting players in the championship game. they were the first all-black team to start in a game at that level – and to win. this story was retold in haskins' autobiography "glory road" (2005) and in the 2006 film "glory road". haskins compiled a 719–353 record and experienced only five losing seasons. he was inducted into the basketball hall of fame in 1997, and the special events center was renamed the don haskins center. he retired from coaching in 1999, and died in 2008. the entire 1966 utep team was inducted into the hall of fame in 2007.
university of texas at el paso