Ray Mears (basketball), Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

Ray Mears (basketball)

American college basketball coach

Date of Birth: 08-Nov-1926

Place of Birth: Dover, England, United Kingdom

Date of Death: 11-Jun-2007

Profession: basketball coach

Nationality: United States

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Ray Mears (November 8, 1926 – June 11, 2007) was an American college basketball coach.
He served as the head basketball coach at Wittenberg University from 1956 to 1962 and the University of Tennessee from 1962 to 1977.
His career record of 399–135 (.747) still ranks among the top 15 all-time NCAA coaching records for those with a minimum of 10 seasons.
Mears is largely regarded as the father of Tennessee Volunteers basketball, and was known for his trademark orange blazer, which he wore during games.
Mears is also credited with coining the phrase "Big Orange Country." Mears was born in Dover, Ohio and was married to the former Dana Davis.
They had three sons: Steve, Mike, and Matt.
Ray Mears Boulevard in Knoxville, Tennessee, the city where he died, is named for him.