Harry Combes, Basketball • 1935-37 / Men’s Basketball Coach • 1948-67

As head coach, Combes set the school record for wins (316-150) that stood for 25 years until broken by Lou Henson in 1990. His teams won four Big Ten titles (1949, 1951, 1952, 1963) and made three NCAA Final Four appearances (1949, 1951, 1952) during one of the most successful eras in Fighting Illini basketball history. Each of his Illini teams that reached the Final Four finished in third place. Combes starred as an Illini player from 1935-37, helping Illinois to Big Ten titles in 1935 under Craig Ruby and in 1937 under Doug Mills, earning Second-Team All-Big Ten in 1936 and First-Team All-Big Ten recognition in 1937. He also was named Second-Team All-American in 1937. Combes died in 1977 at the age of 62.