Larry O Finch was a player and coach for the University of Memphis men's basketball team.
12 Facts About Larry Finch
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Larry Finch is perhaps most famous for leading the Memphis Tigers to the NCAA men's basketball championship game in 1973 in a heroic loss to the UCLA Bruins, led by Bill Walton.
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Larry Finch then entered Memphis State and played basketball under famed basketball coach Gene Bartow.
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Larry Finch graduated the all-time leading scorer in Memphis history, and is currently the second all-time leading scorer for the University of Memphis.
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Larry Finch was drafted on the fourth round by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1973, but opted to join the local American Basketball Association team, the Memphis Tams.
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Larry Finch played professionally for two years with the Tams, the Memphis Sounds and the Baltimore Hustlers and Baltimore Claws.
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Kirk was forced to leave Memphis State after violating NCAA regulations and becoming the subject of a criminal investigation, and while asking for and getting immunity from prosecution in the Kirk trial, Larry Finch was made head coach in 1986.
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Larry Finch would remain at the school, which was renamed the University of Memphis in 1994, until 1997.
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Larry Finch posted 10 out of 11 winning seasons, seven 20+ win seasons, and six NCAA tournaments.
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Larry Finch recruited and developed such players as Elliot Perry, Penny Hardaway, and Lorenzen Wright.
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In 1998, Larry Finch ran for the office of Shelby County Registrar and lost to the incumbent by only 127 votes despite having no government experience.
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Larry Finch was briefly in the running for coaching positions at Tennessee State, Georgia State, and South Alabama.