Texas Association of Basketball Coaches

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TABC........Who We Are

"The Voice of Texas Basketball"

A Short History of TABC

The Texas Association of Basketball Coaches was borne amidst a strong desire of a small group of basketball coaches in the state to see the sport of basketball attain a semblance of recognition that it enjoyed in other states. It was during a basketball clinic sponsored by the Waco Chamber of Commerce that a group of less than 200 men assembled together and pledged their untiring support to seeing the sport achieve the ranks of credibility. Goals were lofty but perseverance was plentiful, and so, with a burst of optimism that would excite even the most eternal pessimist, the association was conceived. The month was April; the year was 1975.

Growth was slow during those first few years and the association struggled mightily to get the recognition from the press that it so avidly desired. The Waco Chamber continued to sponsor the clinic and TABC hung onto its coattails, hoping to gain new membership as a by- product. Goals continued to be set...a longer playing season, approval of summer camps and leagues, a genuine Top Ten list carried by the wire services. Lofty goals they were and needless to say, they were still years away.

A small group of girls coaches showed interest in joining in with the previously all- male TABC group in 1979 and so it was in 1980 that the association's board of directors voted to recruit girls coaches with vigor and add girls coaches to its board. Promising results were seen that first year and soon the membership goal of 1000 coaches seemed to be realistic. In 1981 the association voted to hire Alton Ballard, who had been editor of the association's newsletter since its inception, as its Executive Director, a post he still holds today. With someone now on staff to spearhead membership drives and coordinate other efforts, the hope was great that growth would soon become as steady as the membership would have it be.

It was! Membership zoomed past the 1000 mark in 1981 and the association then went about its task of sending special liaisons to all meetings of the University Interscholastic League Athletic and Legislative Councils in Austin. Current Baylor University head men's coach, Harry Miller, a former TABC president, was the association's first such liaison and under his direction, mighty things were accomplished. Working with the officers and members of the board, goal after goal was met...approval for summer camps and leagues, an earlier starting date for practices and games, more recognition from the League itself...all these things became reality. Not too long afterward an agreement was forged with both the Lubbock Avalanche- Journal and the Associated Press to carry a weekly Top Ten Coaches Poll in January and February with TABC providing the poll and the media getting it out. TABC now sends its weekly polls directly to the Dallas office of the Associated Press which distributes the poll statewide.

With the credibility gained from statewide exposure through the media and its success in legislative circles, more and more coaches and other friends of basketball began to get involved with the association and support it with both membership and praise. Because of this, in 1988 TABC was able to announce that, with the signing up of 2250 members, it had surpassed the Indiana association and was the largest state basketball association in the nation!

Now as membership totals reach the 3000 mark annually, the association sponsors its own clinic in San Antonio, holds several summer camps and puts out the only newsletter in the world that covers high school basketball with both more editions and more news than any other association would dare to try, the sky is the limit. A full-time office, a readily-available communications network, plus many other creative features, TABC looks to the future with both an eye for vision and a heart for service!

What we do...and why...

Quite simply, we promote basketball. The founders of TABC recognized a need for more visibility for the game more than 20 years ago and since that time we have embarked on an ambitious mission of getting the sport in the spotlight where it belongs. We don't just talk about basketball...we make sure that it occupies a place of distinction on sports pages over the state.

Mission Statement........

The Texas Association of Basketball Coaches strives to promote basketball at all levels in the State of Texas by providing a clearinghouse for information to its member coaches and through informing them of significant happenings peculiar to basketball itself. Through a variety of membership services ranging from scheduling to jobs, TABC meets the needs of its members through a variety of ways.

TABC is a research-based organization that provides the entire state with team updates throughout the basketball season, does Top Ten and Top 25 basketball rankings for high school basketball, hosts annual clinics and camps, and provides a job search services throughout the summer.

TABC publishes 12 newsletters each year, beginning monthly in August and continuing until May.

We are always at your service!

Questions or comments? Email Us

Last Updated: 09/25/2005

TABC
PO Box 2886
Sugar Land, TX 77487-2886
Phone Number: 281-313-8222
Fax Number: 281-313-8224

© Texas Association of Basketball Coaches 2005