LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON “…parents are the pride of didn’t drink, and thus the moniker, their children.” Proverbs 17:6b “Clean Gene,” came to light. The coach says he did not mind it then The UAB men’s basketball program and still chuckles about the has had two head coaches in its encounter. And then there was that history. Both coaches are named time back in the early 80’s when Bartow. Gene, the Hall of Famer, “Clean Gene” was in spirited took teams from Memphis State and recruiting battles with rival UCLA to the Final 4, before starting schools. He welcomed a NCAA the UAB program from scratch in investigation. As he put it, “We 1978. Murry Bartow played for his need the publicity. “ dad on some of UAB’s greatest teams. He went on to become an assistant During his 34-year head-coaching coach at Indiana and William and career, Gene Bartow ran his basket- Mary,before coming back to ball programs just like he ran his life. Birmingham to assist his dad. When It was something his son emulated. Gene Bartow retired from coaching Murry says, “He’s a non-drinker, five years ago, Murry stepped up to and I’m a non-drinker. He’s never the head-coaching job at UAB. smoked or done drugs and I haven’t either. He doesn’t believe in using Murry Bartow says that he has bad language and never does. He learned many things from each of taught me you don’t necessarily his career experiences but maintains have to use four letter words to let that what he has learned from his the players know that you are angry. father has made him a better coach You can talk to all his former play- and person. “He is genuinely good ers. Trust me, they knew when he to people. It doesn’t matter if you was mad. When he would raise his are a CEO of a major company in voice or say things in his stern way, Birmingham or on the custodial staff they knew he meant business.” or grounds crew at UAB, he is sim- Gene scoffs at the notion that his ply good to people. That is part of style is in the minority. “I don’t Gene Bartow and his son Murry coached together being a Christian, treating others the know about that,” he says, “there at UAB for eight years. way you want to be treated. That is are people in lots of different pro- what he does.” Gene chuckles about fessions who can’t say three words his son’s comments saying, without using profanity. I believe “I’m sure you can find a there are lots more who choose to About the Son, few referees who would not try and do it the right way.” Murry Bartow agree with Murry.” Parents- Gene and Ruth Bartow Gene Bartow retired as UAB’s Wife- Tammy Early Bartow, Birmingham “Train a child in the way he should go, and Athletic Director last summer and native has since taken over the operation Sons- Alec (9), Stephen (7) and Connor (5) when he is old he will of the American Basketball Graduate of W.A. Berry High School not depart from it.” Association’s, Memphis Hound 1980 (Hoover High) Proverbs 22:6 Dogs. Whenever possible, he returns Graduate of UAB 1985 Years ago when coaching at Basketball and Golf Team, UAB 1981-85 to Birmingham to watch his son Valparaiso, Gene Bartow Graduate Assist. Indiana 1985-87 coach his old team. He admits just Assist Coach William & Mary 1987-89 remembers a sportswriter sitting back and watching has been Assist Coach UAB 1989-96 asking him to have a few one of the toughest things he has Head Coach UAB 1996-Present drinks and discuss the team. ever had to do in his life. “It has He told the sportswriter he been very difficult. I feel almost the 14 Birmingham Christian Family Alec, Conner and Stephen recently gathered around their grandfather, Gene, as he celebrated his 70th birthday. The Stephen (far right) is often referred to as the “spitting Coach’s image” of his grandfather. Wife “Ruth has done most of the raising Tammy Bartow’s experience as an inten- of our three children. From the sive care nurse and college cheerleader/ Christian aspect, we have certainly coach often comes in handy as the moth- tried to do the right thing and be er of three boys and the wife of UAB the right kind of people, and raise Basketball Coach, Murry Bartow. As a them in a Christian home. We UAB Cheerleader, Tammy cheered for have placed added importance on Murry when he played for the Blazers. attending Sunday school and She continues to cheer him on as head church.” Like his dad, Murry gives coach. Even when it means a late night, credit to his wife, Tammy, for often Tammy makes it a priority to have all taking a lead role in parenting three boys with her at every home game. their three sons. She is also his “I want them to know this is their life. It biggest cheerleader. She is at every is important for all of us to be there to same type of pressure as when I ing. “We are still extremely close,” home game, just a few rows support their Dad.” was on the bench, may be more in says Murry, “We don’t see each behind the UAB bench, with all some cases. It is very stressful to other as much, but I know and three boys. “Tammy is the way my Tammy says working in ICU taught her to me.When we are winning it is a feel his support.” mother was with us,” says Murry, be level headed and thoughtful in her very happy time, but when we are approach to stressful situations. She says “In this same way, husbands “We have always had a strong and getting beat or if it is a close very close family.” with a chuckle,”That’s important now with game, it is hard on me. Murry is a ought to love their wives as three boys who are prone to stitches and very good coach. It hurts me that their own bodies. He who “He must manage his own broken bones.” Tammy says being very more people don’t stand up and loves his wife loves himself.” family well and see that his independent also helps her in her role as say what a good job he is doing,” Ephesians 5:28 children obey him with proper mom and coach’s wife. She explains, says the older Bartow. College coaching is a time con- respect.” 1 Timothy 3:4 “Particularly during basketball season, I plan the boys activities and if Murry can suming profession. It requires lots The coaching situation at UAB is Father and son were inseparable break away and be there that is great, of time away from home coaching unique. No other program in the at UAB and they have a bond that but I know not to expect it. I’m used to and recruiting. It is a six to eight country has had a son follow in runs deep. Living in separate taking the lead with the boys’ activities.” month equation that requires an his dad’s footsteps and coach in a cities— both with hectic sched- interesting juggling act between building that bears his name. Tammy says the boys love sports just like ules— the two are faced with the business and family. Both Bartows their Dad. All three play basketball, they unusual circumstances of going say the women in their lives have continued on page 24 love soccer and Conner and Stephen sometimes a week without talk- made it work. Gene explains, both play baseball. Tammy has her own outlet for exercise. After coaching UAB’s About the Father, Cheerleaders and working as a private Gene Bartow cheer coach, she and friend Amy Bradley Wife- Ruth opened Cheer Tech almost two years Children- Mark, Murry, Beth ago. The women conduct classes for girls Grandchildren- 5 ages 6 to 18. “It has been exciting to see Head Basketball Coach 34 years, 647 victories the positive influence you can have on a UAB Head Basketball Coach 1978-1996 young girl and the way you can help UAB Athletic Director 1977-2000 build her overall confidence,” says Nine NCAA tournaments and five NIT Tammy. As you might have guessed, appearances with UAB. Tammy limits her number of classes dur- UAB Football- Club status to NCAA Division I-A ing basketball season. NCAA Final Four- Memphis State ’73, UCLA ‘76 Alabama Sports Hall of Fame When asked about being forced to work Missouri Basketball Hall of Fame Ruth and Gene Bartow enjoy time with around Murry’s hectic coaching schedule, NE Missouri Athletic Hall of Fame their grandsons. she simply says with a smile, “This is all I’ve UAB Arena renamed Bartow Arena 1996 ever known. This is my life and I love it.” — Laurie Stroud March 2001 15 Bartow Readers’ Thoughts continued from p 15 Gene Bartow is the father of UAB athletics and has nurtured What the Community Says About all sports at the university, not just basketball. One of his Birmingham Christian Family proudest accomplishments is the Blazers’ football program, which is coming off its most James Spann successful season. It has all Chief Meteorologist, ABC 33/40 been based on a simple philos- ophy. Some describe it as the “We have got to come together as a golden rule while others, like Christian community, and a publication his son, say it is simply, “Clean Gene.” Murry explains, “He has like Birmingham Christian Family is the always been a great family man perfect way to do that.” and incredibly loyal to my mother.