Former Vols Coach Ray Mears dead at 80

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., June 11 (UPI) -- Ray Mears, the winningest basketball coach in University of Tennessee history, died Monday at age 80.

Mears led the Volunteers to a 278-112 record from 1963-77, averaging 18.5 wins per season.

"Coach Mears was a true Tennessee legend," Tennessee Athletics Director Mike Hamilton said. "He created a tradition of basketball success, pageantry, and fan support by which all future basketball teams and coaches will be measured."

Mears' win total is tied for eighth in the Southeastern Conference, while his winning percentage of .713 ranks seventh in the conference. His teams won the SEC championship in 1967, a share of it in 1972, and again in his final season in 1977.

The Mears-led Vols reached the NCAA tournament three times and the NIT tournament twice.

In 21 seasons as a head coach, Mears complied a 399-135 record and a 74.7 winning percentage that currently ranks 17th among the winningest coaches in NCAA history.