In retrospect, maybe Hugh Durham hasn’t been honored enough
Georgia made 12 postseason appearances -- including its only Final Four in 1983 -- in 17 seasons under coach Hugh Durham. He and the '83 team wil be recognized before Saturday's game against Mississippi State. (AJC photo)
On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of its historic run, Georgia’s 1983 Final Four basketball team will be back in Stegeman Coliseum on Saturday. So will its coach.
Hugh Durham is 75 years old now and long since retired. In fact, he has been away from Georgia for as long now as he was its basketball coach. Seventeen years it has been, and the longer Durham has been gone the more the Bulldogs have come to appreciate him.
What has become increasingly evident since Durham was forced out in 1995 – the Dogs were 18-10 that year, if you can believe it – is winning basketball at Georgia is hard. Just ask the six coaches that have had the job since Durham was ousted because he wasn’t winning enough.
The latest among those to try is Mark Fox, who is finding the going particularly tough. So far Fox has recorded one winning season out of three and, at this point, it seems very unlikely that a second is in the offing this year.
The Bulldogs limp into Saturday’s game against Mississippi State with a 6-8 record and on the heels of a 33-point loss at Florida in the SEC opener. Forward Marcus Thornton is out indefinitely with a knee injury (again), two players are coming off suspensions for undisclosed violations of team rules and attendance at home games has been poor.
Optimism is hard to find.
Durham lives in San Marco, Fla., with his wife Malinda, works out daily and plays a lot of golf. He also watches a lot of Georgia basketball.
“Just watching them, I think Fox does a good coaching job,” Durham said. “I’m talking about the stuff that they run and the kids seem to get after it on the floor and he’s got them sold on what they’re doing. He calls timeout and they’re attentive and have a positive body language.”
Here Durham pauses and his voice rises to that excited octave only he can achieve.
“You gotta have players!” he said. “I’d like to think we were able to coach, too. But we were also blessed with having some good players.”
Durham’s sitting in his home office as he says this and relays that he’s looking at a picture on the wall of that ’83 team after it won the SEC Tournament.
“I’m thinking Terry Fair was a pretty good player,” he says. “So was Vern (Fleming) and James (Banks) and Gerald Crosby. Go back and look at some of the clips from that team. Some of the stuff those guys did, hey, they were pretty good.”
Of course, ’83 proved to be a flash in the pan. Georgia had never reached the Final Four before and it hasn’t since. But perhaps the more remarkable part about Durham’s tenure with the Bulldogs is how they were always competitive and never awful. His worst season in 17 was 14-16 in 1993-94, he had only one other non-winning year (15-16 in ’88-89) and he never won fewer than six SEC games.
UGA has had poorer seasons than that eight times since Durham’s departure, and that doesn’t include two seasons of vacated wins under Jim Harrick. Fox might get SEC coach of the year if the Bulldogs win six league games this year. And the conference is currently a shadow of what it was when Durham was doing his best work in the 1980s.
“I took a lot of pride in the fact that we were pretty consistent,” Durham says. “I mean, other guys have done a good job there. Tubby (Smith) came in and for two years did a good job. Jim Harrick came in and, for a couple of years, they turned out a couple of outstanding teams. But we were basically blessed with some pretty good players when you really get down to it.”
A lot of people know that Durham was the winningest coach in UGA history, logging 298 wins from 1979-95. But fewer know that he is actually the winningest coach in history at three different schools. He also achieved that feat at the two other places he coached, Florida State (230) and Jacksonville (106).
Today, Durham is in the FSU, Kentucky High School, Florida Sports and Georgia Sports halls of fame. A few years ago, they even named the mid-major college coach of the year honor after him — the Hugh Durham Award.
Looking back on what he did at Georgia, perhaps Hugh Durham hasn’t been honored enough.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
84 comments Add your comment
L England
January 11th, 2013
2:36 pm
Hugh Durham was not only a great coach, but an even better person! I had the priviledge of watching him coach for many years. His teams were hard working and followed his script. He cared about winning but he cared more about the players and staff. That marks a difference in many coaches. He loved UGA and should have been at the helm much, much longer! He would always say “we have enough shooters, what we need are more hitters” ! A classy man with a classy wife and family. He is certainly missed at UGA!!
To complete the comments of a couple of classy posters
January 11th, 2013
2:40 pm
Tide is Rolling: “be elite in a sport besides gymnastics”
Follow the Course: “don’t forget equestrian.”
Let’s do forget equestrian since there are not that many schools participating. However, I would say that SEC titles and National Championships are ELITE.
Check the record: UGA has won close to 30 NCs (besides equestrian) and close to 140 SEC championships. We are not a one trick pony either. NCs have been won by men in baseball, football, golf, and tennis, and by women in golf, tennis, gymnastics, and swimming. Multiple NCs in football, gymnastics, swimming, men’s golf, men’s tennis, and women’s tennis.
That, my friends is an elite, well-balanced athletic program that few can match.
lawzoo
January 11th, 2013
2:42 pm
Fire Mark Fox ???? He was the only one who would agree to stalk the lovely and historic sidelines at Stegeman Autotorium ! Everyone else slapped their knees.
Yeah go ahead and get Coach K or L to come to Athens.
KOOL
January 11th, 2013
2:46 pm
Seriously, Jim Harrick & Tubby Smith were both better coaches than Hugh Durham.
UGA Alum
January 11th, 2013
2:46 pm
Is that the famous Larry England who’s PA announcing I enjoyed for so many years at the Colesium and Sanford Staduim?
UGA Alum
January 11th, 2013
2:48 pm
Hugh Durham was by far the best “in game” basketball coach Georgia’s ever had. Obviously, not a bad recruiter either.
UGA Alum
January 11th, 2013
2:50 pm
Harrick was a crook even by Jack Abramoff standards.
UGA Alum
January 11th, 2013
2:51 pm
Just hire a coach that’s smart enough to hire a good recruiter.
AFD
January 11th, 2013
2:59 pm
SEC College Basketball Recruiting Rankings (2008-2012) – [Current record]
Avg. # of recruiting stars per recruited scholarship player on rosters:
1. Kentucky (x8): 4.50 [10-4 overall; 1-0 SEC]
T2. Alabama (x9): 3.78 [8-6 overall; 0-1 SEC]
T2. Florida (x13): 3.78 [11-2 overall; 1-0 SEC; nation's #11 ranked team]
4. Ga Tech (x13): 3.54 [10-4 overall; 0-2 ACC]
T5. Arkansas (x12): 3.50 [9-5 overall; 0-1 SEC]
T5. Tennessee (x12): 3.50 [8-5 overall; 0-1 SEC]
7. Missouri (x12): 3.42 [12-2 overall; 1-0 SEC; nation's #10 ranked team]
8. Texas A&M (x9): 3.33 [11-3 overall; 1-0 SEC]
9. Vanderbilt (x10): 3.30 [6-7 overall; 0-1 SEC]
10. Auburn (x11): 3.27 [7-7 overall; 1-0 SEC]
11. Ole Miss (x12): 3.00 [12-2 overall; 1-0 SEC]
12. S. Carolina (x12): 2.92 [10-4 overall; 0-1 SEC]
13. LSU (x9): 2.89 [9-3 overall; 0-1 SEC]
14. Georgia (x13): 2.69 [6-8 overall; 0-1 SEC]
15. Miss St (x10): 2.50 [6-7 overall; 1-0 SEC]
Recruiting Stars & 2012-2013 Statistics for UGA’s Recruited Scholarship Players:
- Sherrard Brantley: 0 stars [started 2 of 14 games; avg. 18.1 min/game; .405 FG %; .389 3-pt FG %; .571 FT %; avg. 1.1 rebounds/game; avg. 3.7 ppg; 5 steals]
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: 5 stars [started 14 of 14 games; avg. 33.3 min/game; .422 FG%; .323 3-pt FG %; .776 FT %; avg. 6.9 rebounds/game; avg. 17.0 ppg; avg. 1.9 assists/game; avg. 1.9 turnovers/game; 31 steals; 6 blocks]
- John Cannon: 3 stars [started 2 of 14 games; avg. 10.9 min/game; .524 FG %; 100% on FTs; avg 2.4 rebounds/game; avg. 3.6 min/game; 1 steal; 5 blocks]
- Tim Dixon: 3 stars [played in 14 games; avg. 11.3 min/game; .571 FG %; .875 FT %; avg. 1.9 rebounds/game; avg. 2.2 ppg; 3 steals; 8 blocks]
- Nemanja Djurisic: 3 stars [started 10 of 14 games; avg. 23.6 min/game; .361 FG %; .242 3-pt FG %; .763 FT %; avg. 4.0 rebounds/game; avg. 1.6 assists/game; avg. 2.6 turnovers/game; avg. 8.2 ppg; 7 steals; 4 blocks]
- John Florveus: 3 stars [started 5 of 10 games; avg. 17.9 min/game; .611 FG %; .500 FT %; avg. 3.1 rebounds/game; avg. 2.8 ppg; 5 steals; 6 blocks]
- Kenny Gaines: 3 stars [played in 13 games; avg. 9.0 min/game; .324 FG%; .267 3-pt FG %; .667 FT %; avg. 2.3 ppg; 4 steals; 3 blocks]
- Houston Kessler: 0 stars [redshirting]
- Charles Mann: 3 stars [started 4 of 14 games; avg. 18.8 min/game; .370 FG %; .333 3-pt FG %; .589 FT %; avg. 2.7 rebounds/game; avg. 2.4 assists/game; avg. 2.3 turnovers/game; avg. 5.4 ppg; 10 steals; 3 blocks]
- Brandon Morris: 3 stars [started 6 of 14 games; avg. 13.6 min/game; .457 FG %; .333 3-pt FG %; .710 FT %; avg. 2.1 rebounds/game; avg. 0.8 assists/game; avg. 3.9 ppg; 5 steals; 3 blocks]
- Marcus Thornton: 3 stars [started 7 of 9 games; avg. 22.0 min/game; .364 FG %; .167 3-pt %; .563 FT %; avg. 4.4 rebounds/game; 1.0 assists/game; 3.8 ppg; 3 steals; 8 blocks]; note: out indefinitely w/ a knee injury
- Donte’ Williams: 3 stars [started 10 of 11 games; avg. 21.2 min/game; .500 FG %; .467 FT %; avg. 4.8 rebounds/game; avg. 1.9 turnovers/game; avg. 5.7 ppg; 4 steals; 10 blocks]
- Vincent Williams: 3 stars [started 10 of 14 games; avg. 21.8 min/game; .317 FG%; .368 3-pt FG %; .444 FT %; avg. 1.4 rebounds/game; avg. 2.5 assists/game; avg. 1.9 turnovers/game; avg. 4.3 ppg; 11 steals; 2 blocks]
UGA’s All-Time Record vs. SEC Teams:
671-896 (42.8%)
vs. Alabama: 47-91
vs. Arkansas: 13-16
vs. Auburn: 89-88
vs. Florida: 99-107
vs. Ga Tech: 86-102 (former SEC team that UGA plays annually)
vs. Kentucky: 25-115
vs. LSU: 41-61
vs. Ole Miss: 66-39
vs. Miss St: 52-50
vs. Missouri: 0-3
vs. S. Carolina: 50-48
vs. Tennessee: 54-92
vs. Texas A&M: 0-0
vs. Vanderbilt: 49-84
UGA’s All-Time Record vs. All Competition:
1267-1191 (51.5%)
wjc
January 11th, 2013
3:19 pm
I heard Durham doing an interview a few years back here in Atlanta, and his last comment was that he still loves UGA, Athens, and his time there, that he would be glad to do interviews in Atlanta regarding Georgia basketball anytime! Made it sound like he has no bad taste in his mouth regarding his tenure at UGA, I was very impressed! I don’t think the article mentioned if he would be back on Saturday, I hope he will!
JB
January 11th, 2013
3:24 pm
Fox like Johnson at Tech when it’s comes to recruiting….It’s like engaging the Jiffy Lube guy. You wouldn’t leave YOUR job to join him at Jiffy Lube. Imagine spending 15 minutes with Fox….then an hour later Roy Williams shows up…………..
Sounds like Kindergarten
January 11th, 2013
3:27 pm
After playing Florida, I am sure Bulldwag fans are saying they were only 33 points faway from playing for a national chamopinship
Joey
January 11th, 2013
3:40 pm
Good coach – poor recruiter.
It’s just a shame with all the talent in this state, almost none (other than RCP) will stay in state. I know Tech gets more than we do, but still, they get very little also.
Hell there’s enough talent in Metro-ATL to get both teams to the big dance every year, but they say “no thanks.”
RCP will almost certainly flee after this season. I watch him make spectacular plays, and the applause at Stegeman sounds about as loud as the ones we get at my cornhole tourneys in my back yard on weekends . . .
coondawg69
January 11th, 2013
3:45 pm
was a heckuva bench coach in his day. never able to truly recruit a big man, but was able to sign talent more times than not: Vern Fleming, Donald Hartry, Gerald Crosby, Terry Fair, Willie Anderson, Jumpin Joe Ward, Horce McMillian, Rod Cole, Both Keslers, The General Jody Patton, Mike The Gunner Ganote, Stu “Slammin” Saunders…….. just loads of talent!!!
fantastic racketball player!!!
UGA Alum
January 11th, 2013
3:47 pm
Wasn’t Mark Slonaker a player for Coach Durham?
ARdawg
January 11th, 2013
4:04 pm
Agreed on all counts Chip. Hugh took a lot of flak as the UGA coach through the years but, he was always a class man and coach.
SWGADAWG
January 11th, 2013
4:27 pm
I was there when Hugh came in and changed the culture. Students on the floor made a huge difference. We could literally touch the opposing players. Sadly, there hasn’t been a coach since with his vision. We have gotten what we deserved for firing him.
Blazerdawg
January 11th, 2013
4:41 pm
Miss Coach Duham. Met him a few times and he was always gracious.
Home team on 960 AM Ref is right – name the court in Stegeman for Coach Hugh Durham!
JayD
January 11th, 2013
5:26 pm
And for the record… people are giving him waaaay too much credit for being a “good coach, poor recruiter” he’s not really that good at either!
Gary
January 11th, 2013
5:32 pm
Coon, how on earth can you mention all of those players that Durham recruited and leave out his crown jewel? Am I the only one that remembers that he talked Dominique Wilkins, Mr. Basketball in North Carolina, into playing for him at Georgia in his first full year of recruiting? There was as much excitement over that signing as for Herschel in football. ‘Nique made it possible to recruit the other great players that followed. He’s still IMO the best player ever at Georgia.
Paul in NH
January 11th, 2013
5:38 pm
Bobby Cremins’ name is on the floor at the McCamish Pavilion. Hugh Durham’s name should be on the floor at Stegeman.
P-Man
January 11th, 2013
5:41 pm
Durham was a great coach and a true class act. At the end of the season, he would invite the basketball band to his for dinner and conversation with his assistant coaches. I’ve never heard of any other coach doing this…
DawgFan
January 11th, 2013
6:41 pm
Durhams teams were cutting edge for toughness and defense. The 83 team had a one man press in Lamar Heard who was 6′5 and defended all over the floor blocking shots, scoring baskets around the rim, making steals. Hartry, Crosby, Melvin Howard were some other great defenders. Really fun team to watch and the win over UNC in the semis was incredible.
UGADawg83
January 11th, 2013
7:26 pm
I was in school during the Durham days. Good times in the ole Stegasorus. Classic games with Dale Brown and LSU, Joe B. Hall and Kentucky, C.M Newton and Vandy and Wimp Sanderson at Alabama. The place would actually rock. Hugh was under appreciated then as well ask now. Until Georgia both the administration and the fans DEMAND good basketball we want have it. As one local diehard Dog said to me, “I don’t care about basketball.” The question is do we have bad basketball because we don’t care or do we not care because we have bad basketball.
William
January 11th, 2013
10:20 pm
The Fox is in the hen house and the chickens are flying the coup. Need a new coach, bad. Need a recruiter more than a coach. Anybody can coach athletes. We need athletes. Fox is a nice guy but nice guys finish last.
UGA Supporter and Donor
January 12th, 2013
12:17 am
It amazes me how ignorant, apathetic or just plain naive 99% of Georgia fans are regarding basketball. Some are just stupid. Mark Fox was a HUGE mistake hire. Why in the hell would you hire a guy from NEVADA for Chris sake?! How is he ever going to relate to kids and coaches around the Southeast? Guess what, he hasn’t. To you flakes who think Fox is going to bring in a great class this year, guess what….all the good ones are signed elsewhere. Fox cannot recruit…period. The program is close to rock bottom, and Greg McGarity will do NOTHING about it because the Mint Julip-sipping crowd on the UGA Athletic Board, the boosters and the old school donors simply do not give a damn. Shame on you all…especially Greg McGarity if you do not replace Mark Fox at the end of the season.
UGA Supporter and Donor
January 12th, 2013
12:25 am
Gary and others, Hugh Durham had an assistant coach Roger somebody who recruited all those exceptional players that were the Final Four team. I cannot recall his last name. Sonny Smith stole him from Durham somehow and the guy manages to sign Charles Barkley and Wesley Person to Auburn which later made a school-record NCAA Tournament run as well.
goatbarn
January 12th, 2013
1:18 am
UGA Supporter—-Decide which person you are….12:17 or 12:25am…please! Fox is a good coach..Do you have a replacement in mind since your’e ready to fire him?
Steve
January 12th, 2013
5:55 am
UGA Dawgs probably would’ve won it all that year had ‘Nique stayed for his senior season…
Inlet Dawg
January 12th, 2013
7:30 am
Said it then and history proves me correct he was great for UGA.
Hurt Kurbstreit
January 12th, 2013
9:27 am
There is absolutely no reason UGA shouldn’t be a top 15 basketball team every year. There is too much talent in the Atlanta area and state. UGA should be a powerhouse BB program. I’ve been very disapointed in coach Fox.
SimpleDawg
January 12th, 2013
9:45 am
Ft Worth:Thanks for the link. I remember Durham’s years as great years in Georgia BB, but had forgotten just how good those years were.
Durham was a victim of his own success…..
Fox is a good coach, particularly of the low post game, but he seems to be either a poor evaluator of talent, or a bad recruiter….probably both.
Success breeds success……on the other hand, losing……..
Hoops Dawg
January 12th, 2013
11:45 am
Hey Gary, i agree that Nique was the most talented player ever at Georgia, but he was a distraction to the rest of a very talented group. They went to the final four the next year and were a better team without Nique. My candidate for the best ever team player was Willie Anderson who could do it all–shoot,rebound, defend, and, quite frankly, take over SEC games. In terms of value to his team, Rashad Wright ranks very high as well, as does Terry Fair and even Pertha Robinson. These were great (for UGA) but often overlooked players.
Paul Johnson #1 Offensive Mind
January 13th, 2013
8:29 am
HEY PUPS====
JUST GIVE UP BASKETBALL…….
YOU HAVE, AND ALWAYS WILL SUKK !!!!!!!!!