Men's Basketball
- Title:
- Interim Head Coach
- Email:
- mbartow@athletics.ucla.edu
Bartow came to Westwood after having served on the coaching staff at the University of South Florida (USF) during the 2016-17 season. Bartow took over as USFโs interim head coach midway through the year (Jan. 2017).
Previously, Bartow had served as head coach at East Tennessee State (2004-15) and UAB (1997-02). Through 18 seasons as a collegiate head coach, Bartow guided his teams to nine postseason appearances and four NCAA Tournament berths. During those 18 seasons as head coach, Bartow amassed 327 career wins.
Bartow was the head coach at East Tennessee State for 12 years (2003-04 through 2014-15). He finished with a 224-165 overall record at ETSU, becoming the second winningest head coach in program history. As head coach at East Tennessee State, Bartow led the Buccaneers to a Southern Conference title in 2004, the Atlantic Sun Conference regular-season title in 2007 and back-to-back Atlantic Sun Tournament titles in 2009 and 2010.
East Tennessee State advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2004, 2009 and 2010 under Bartowโs leadership. The Buccaneers earned their sixth postseason appearance in 11 seasons during the 2013-14 campaign, Bartowโs 11th season as the programโs head coach. ETSU advanced to the second round of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament after defeating rival Chattanooga in the first round.
ETSUโs 2010-11 season included a 24-win campaign and the programโs first-ever invitation to the CollegeInsider.com postseason tournament (semifinal appearance). During the regular season, the Buccaneers recorded their highest RPI since 2004, winning key road contests against Mississippi State and Dayton. Bartow helped the Bucs overcome the tragic preseason death of rising sophomore Seth Coy and the loss of injured senior captain Mike Smith to win the Atlantic Sunโs regular-season title and advance to the NCAA Tournament. ETSU had three players who earned Atlantic Sun All-Tournament Team recognition prior to an NCAA Tournament contest against Kentucky.
Bartow led East Tennessee State to another 20-win season in 2008-09, as the Buccaneers went 23-11 and captured at the Atlantic Sun Tournament title to earn the programโs eighth all-time appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
In 2006-07, Bartow helped guide ETSU to one of the programโs most successful seasons. The Buccaneers went 24-10 and compiled a 16-2 record in Atlantic Sun play to win the regular-season conference title. ETSU advanced to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). For the second time in four seasons, Bartow was honored as the Atlantic Sun Coach of the Year.
During Bartowโs first season at ETSU (2003-04), the Buccaneers came within one win of matching the program record for single-season victories, going 27-6 overall and finishing 15-1 in league play. The Bucs set a school record with a 16-game winning streak. ETSU finished in first place in the Southern Conferenceโs North Division for the fourth consecutive season and won the leagueโs regular-season title for the second time in four years. In addition, ETSU won the SoCon Tournament title for the second straight season and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
Bartow was named the SoCon Coach of the Year in 2003-04, an award voted upon by the leagueโs head coaches and members of the media. Three players secured first-team All-SoCon Conference honors, including league MVP Zakee Wadood and Tim Smith, the conference tournament MVP.
Prior to coaching at East Tennessee State, Bartow served as the head coach at UAB (Alabama-Birmingham) from 1996-2002. He helped the Blazers advance to the NCAA Tournament in 1999, before taking three teams at ETSU to the NCAA Tournament.
Overall, Bartowโs teams at UAB compiled a record of 103-83, including 48 victories in Conference USA action (second only to Bob Huggins at Cincinnati during that span). The Blazers twice enjoyed 20-win seasons under Bartow and secured NIT berths in 1997 and 1998.
The son of former UCLA head coach Gene Bartow, Murry Bartow grew up around the game of basketball. His father, Gene, served as head coach at six college programs including UCLA for two seasons (1975-76, 1976-77,) before concluding his coaching career as head coach for 18 seasons at UAB (1979-96).
Murry Bartow and his late father, Gene, compiled 974 victories as head coaches (Gene with 647 and Murry with 327), which is the fifth-highest win total among father-son duos.
Murry Bartow began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Indiana (1986-87), working for head coach Bob Knight as the Hoosiers captured the 1987 NCAA Championship. He worked on Indianaโs coaching staff during Steve Alfordโs final two seasons as a student-athlete at IU. Following his time in Bloomington, Ind., Bartow worked for two seasons (1988-89) as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at William & Mary (Williamsburg, Va.).
Bartow served as an assistant coach under his father at UAB from 1989-96, developing a reputation as an energetic teacher and recruiter.
Bartow earned his B.A. in business administration from UAB in 1985 and his masterโs degree from Indiana in 1987. He played basketball at UAB from 1980-85 and was part of four NCAA Tournament teams and three Sun Belt Conference championship teams. In addition, he helped the Blazers win the 1984 Great Alaska Shootout. Bartow also competed on the menโs golf team at UAB.
A standout guard at W.A. Berry High School (Birmingham, Ala.) who graduated in 1980, Bartow secured All-Jefferson County honors and was named his teamโs MVP as a senior.
Originally from Warrensburg, Missouri, Bartow is married to the former Tammy Earley. He and his wife have three sons โ Alec, Stephen and Connor.
