Billy Ball was a thing before the Oklahoma City Thunder hired Billy Donovan.
Former Oklahoma head coach Billy Tubbs brought the Sooners’ basketball program to prominence during the 1980s. Oklahoma would go on to make eight-straight NCAA Tournament appearances, which were followed by four Sweet 16 appearances, two Elite Eight appearances and a Final Four appearance that resulted in a National Championship Runner-Up.
Tubbs stuck around Norman, Oklahoma, and was a regular guest around the basketball program.
On Sunday, his time here had come to an end. Tubbs passed away from a form of leukemia at the age of 85.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Coach Billy Tubbs,” said Oklahoma vice president and director of athletics Joe Castiglione. “Billy is one of the most successful, popular and colorful figures in the history of OU Athletics. His passion and vision of the game defined an era of Sooner basketball and forever changed the trajectory of our hoops program. His teams also helped usher in a fan-friendly style of basketball during a time when college basketball was really growing and evolving. His teams would go anywhere, at any time, to play anyone if it helped the program in the long run.
“While Billy will always be known for having teams with legendary players who wreaked havoc on defense and scored a lot of points, he’ll also be remembered for his quick-witted humor and charm. His one-liners and joyful charisma helped define the persona of the coach we loved. We send our thoughts and our prayers to Pat, Tommy and Taylor, as well as his entire family and many close friends throughout Sooner Nation. He will truly be missed but never forgotten.”
Billy Ball consisted of Oklahoma being ranked in the top three nationally for points per game for seven consecutive seasons (1984-90). The Sooners averaged over 100 points a game in 1987-88 (102.9), 1988-89 (102.2) and 1989-90 (101.3). Oklahoma’s 4,012 total points in the 1987-88 season remain the most for a single season by any team in NCAA history.
He recruited and coached Sooners’ legends Wayman Tisdale (1983, 1984, 1985), Harvey Grant (1988), Stacey King (1988, 1989) and Mookie Blaylock (1989).
“The history and tradition of the Oklahoma basketball program is rooted in Billy Tubbs and his legendary teams,” said current head coach Lon Kruger. “Coach Tubbs was an incredible innovator and mastermind behind some of the highest-scoring teams in college basketball history. His historic run with Sooner Basketball continues to be the foundation of our program to this day. He remained an avid ambassador for the university and supported the program as a confidant and friend. Our hearts go out to Pat, Tommy and the entire Tubbs family.”
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