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Taylor " Tates" Locke (February 25, 1937 – May 15, 2024) was an American basketball coach. He was described by Rick Telander in the March 8, 1982, issue of Sports Illustrated as being "as high-strung, aggressive and gung-ho over college coaching as anyone has ever been." Telander, Rick. "The Descent of a Man," Sports Illustrated, March 8, 1982. Retrieved March 17, 2023. He died in Jacksonville, Florida, on May 15, 2024, at the age of 87.
Locke resigned from his Miami post to replace Bobby Roberts as head coach at Clemson University on March 18, 1970. "Locke to Coach Clemson Quintet," United Press International (UPI), Wednesday, March 18, 1970. Retrieved March 15, 2023. After a season in which the Tigers had its best record in eight years at 17–11 and shared second place with North Carolina and North Carolina State in the Atlantic Coast Conference, he announced his resignation on March 20, 1975, amid a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) investigation into alleged violations involving offering money to recruit Moses Malone and furnishing cars to five Tigers players including Tree Rollins, Skip Wise and Stan Rome. Harvin, Al. "People in Sports," The New York Times, Friday, March 21, 1975. Retrieved March 15, 2023. "Clemson recruiting probe is continued," United Press International (UPI), Thursday, February 13, 1975. Retrieved March 15, 2023. Locke was succeeded by Bill Foster on April 9. Harvin, Al. "People in Sports," The New York Times, Thursday, April 10, 1975. Retrieved March 15, 2023. Clemson's men's basketball program was placed on three years probation on October 7. "Sports News Briefs," The New York Times, Wednesday, October 8, 1975. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
Locke's only experience at the professional level was made possible by Jack Ramsay who brought him to the Buffalo Braves as an assistant coach and chief scout beginning in 1975–76. When Ramsay's contract wasn't renewed the day after the Braves were eliminated by the Boston Celtics from the playoffs, Locke was promoted and signed a two-year contract to succeed him as the franchise's fourth head coach three days later on May 6, 1976. He vowed to build "one hell of an aggressive basketball team." "Tates Locke New Coach of Braves," United Press International (UPI), Thursday, May 6, 1976. Retrieved November 30, 2020
Once the 1976–77 season started, the Braves traded Bob McAdoo and Tom McMillen to the New York Knicks and Moses Malone to the Houston Rockets. Locke was also at odds with Ernie DiGregorio and John Shumate. With the Braves at 16–30, games behind the Atlantic Division-leading Philadelphia 76ers and in the midst of a five-match losing streak, he was fired and replaced on an interim basis by general manager Bob MacKinnon on January 25, 1977. "Locke Is Dismissed as Braves' Coach," The Associated Press (AP), Tuesday, January 25, 1977. Retrieved November 30, 2020
He succeeded Don Beasley as head coach at Jacksonville University on March 23, 1978. "Locke Goes To Jacksonville," The Associated Press (AP), Friday, March 24, 1978. Retrieved March 14, 2023. He took the Dolphins to an NCAA berth and NIT berth.
After assistant stints at UNLV and Indiana, Locke would accept the head coach vacancy at Indiana State University. In his first season, he doubled the win total of his predecessor; in his second season, the Sycamores finished the season at 14-14 (.500) and Locke would be named MVC Coach of the Year. Though achieving modest success, he resigned under pressure after five seasons. He later worked as a scout and assistant general manager for the Portland Trail Blazers.
Locke co-authored with Bob Ibach Caught in the Net, a 1982 book about his transgressions as a college basketball head coach, primarily during his time at Clemson. The book inspired the 1994 film Blue Chips. Fernandes, Doug. "Ibach's career had perfect start," Herald-Tribune (Sarasota, FL), Thursday, May 6, 2010. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
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