Statham gets 1,000th coaching victory

LEBANON, Ill., Nov. 14 (UPI) -- McKendree University's Harry Statham is the first U.S. men's four-year college basketball coach with 1,000 career victories.

Statham, 72, reached the milestone in Lebanon, Ill., Friday when his fifth-ranked NAIA Division I Bearcats recorded a 79-49 win over East-West University. His 44-year record is 1000-381 (.724 winning percentage).

He and Pat Summitt, the successful women's coach at the University of Tennessee, are the only coaches ever with 1,000 career wins at a four-year school.

"This is a great night for sure, but this program is about all of the players who have played and who are playing at McKendree," Statham said during a post-game interview. "We have had great players, and more importantly, great people, who have represented McKendree."

In the game's closing moments, an appreciative crowd chanted "Harry, Harry" in his honor and more than 40 former players joined Statham in a post-game celebration.

Summitt has 1,005 wins in 35 seasons.