Floyd Burdette

Floyd Burdette

Sport(s)	Basketball
Biographical details
Born	(1914-09-05)September 5, 1914 Martin, Tennessee
Died	Martin, Tennessee
Alma mater	Murray State Oklahoma A&M
Playing career
1935	UT–Martin
1936–1938	Murray State
1943–1944	Oklahoma A&M
Position(s)	Center
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1939–1940	Oklahoma A&M (Assistant)
1946–1952	Alabama
1952–1971	UT–Martin
Head coaching record
Overall	278–260

Floyd Burdette (September 5, 1914 – December 1, 1995) was a former head coach for both the Alabama and Tennessee–Martin Skyhawks men's basketball teams. Born in Martin, Tennessee, Burdette played college basketball for one season at UT Junior College and three at Murray State University from 1935 to 1938. In all four season he competed, Burdette led his team in scoring and was an all-conference selection. He then attended Oklahoma A&M where he both coached and played in 1944 before he began his head coaching career.

Early life

Burdette was born at Martin, Tennessee on September 5, 1914. He attended UT Junior College (now known as the University of Tennessee at Martin) in 1935 where he was a member of the basketball team. Burdette led the Mississippi Valley Conference in scoring and was a selection to the all-conference squad, but transferred to Murray State University after the season. As a member of the Racers squad for the 1936, 1937 and 1938 seasons, Burdette was both their leading scorer and was selected All-SIAA in each season.

After he graduated from Murray State, Burdette went to graduate school at Oklahoma A&M (now known as Oklahoma State University) in 1939. As he pursued his masters degree in physical education, Burdette coached the Cowboys freshman team. He then played for the Oklahoma City 89ers AAU basketball team in Oklahoma City before he returned to Oklahoma A&M to head the school's air crew training program during World War II. As a result of changes to eligibility requirements for participation in intercollegiate athletics due to the war, Burdette played for Henry Iba as a center on the 1943–44 Oklahoma A&M basketball squad.

Coaching career

Burdette served as head men's basketball coach at Alabama from 1946 through 1952. During his six season tenure with the Crimson Tide, he amassed an overall record of 81 wins and 59 losses (81–59). After he lest Alabama, Burdette returned to his hometown and coached at Tennessee–Martin from 1952 to 1971. During his nineteen-year tenure with the Skyhawks, he amassed an overall record of 197 wins and 201 losses (197–201) and the 1970 Volunteer State Athletic Conference championship.

Head coaching record

Season	Coach	Overall	Conference	Standing	Postseason
Alabama Crimson Tide (Southeastern Conference) (1946–1952)
1946–1947	Alabama	16–6	13–5	4th
1947–1948	Alabama	15–12	8–8	4th
1948–1949	Alabama	13–12	9–9	6th
1949–1950	Alabama	9–12	8–9	5th
1950–1951	Alabama	15–8	10–4	2nd
1951–1952	Alabama	13–9	9–5	2nd
Alabama:		81–59	57–40
Tennessee–Martin Skyhawks (Independent) (1952–1960)
1952–1953	Tennessee–Martin	7–9
1953–1954	Tennessee–Martin	15–3
1954–1955	Tennessee–Martin	14–4
1955–1956	Tennessee–Martin	13–6
1956–1957	Tennessee–Martin	7–13
1957–1958	Tennessee–Martin	8–2
1958–1959	Tennessee–Martin	9–13
1959–1960	Tennessee–Martin	10–9
Tennessee–Martin Skyhawks (Volunteer State Athletic Conference) (1960–1971)
1960–1961	Tennessee–Martin	13–10	7–5
1961–1962	Tennessee–Martin	13–11	8–6
1962–1963	Tennessee–Martin	12–12	6–4
1963–1964	Tennessee–Martin	11–10	8–4
1964–1965	Tennessee–Martin	11–13	6–6
1965–1966	Tennessee–Martin	12–8	7–2
1966–1967	Tennessee–Martin	11–13	6–1
1967–1968	Tennessee–Martin	3–18	3–7
1968–1969	Tennessee–Martin	8–12	5–5
1969–1970	Tennessee–Martin	14–12	6–4
1970–1971	Tennessee–Martin	3–20	0–9
Tennessee–Martin:		197–201	62–53
Total:		278–260
National champion         Postseason invitational champion         Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion       Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion       Conference tournament champion