Gary Colson, the courtly, fatherly coach who brought University of New Mexico men’s basketball back to respectability after the Lobogate scandal of 1979-80, died on Friday in Santa Barbara, California. He was 89.
In reality, it seems fair to state that Colson brought the UNM program well beyond respectability. His 1983-84 Lobos won 24 games; his 1986-87 edition won 25. And, during his eight years at New Mexico, there were no echoes of Lobogate.
Gary Colson through the years
UNM basketball coach Gary Colson, right, talks to his players in a timeout during the game against Grambling State University in the Pit on Dec. 19, 1987.
UNM coach Gary Colson is carried off the court by Luc Longley, left, and Rob Loeffel, right, in the Pit after his Lobos beat No. 1 Arizona 61-59 on Jan. 2, 1988.
Lobo guard Jimmy Rogers congratulates his coach, Gary Colson, after UNM beat No. 1 Arizona 61-59 in the Pit on Jan. 2, 1988.
sLobos coach Gary Colson receives a free ride from the Pit floor after New Mexico’s 61-59 win over top-ranked Arizona on Saturday, Jan. 2, 1988. Luc Longley, left, Rob Loeffel, center, and Stan Whisenant join the celebration.
UNM coach Gary Colson yells from the sidelines during the Lobo game with Oklahoma State University on March 25, 1988.
Former Lobo coach Gary Colson, left, former assistant coach Larry Shyatt, right and Scott Duncan, crouching below, appear in this undated photo.
New Mexico basketball head coach Gary Colson bids a tearful farewell to the University of New Mexico on Tuesday, April 26, 1988.
Michael Heisley, center, the Memphis Grizzlies majority owner, holds up a team jersey after announcing the hiring of Jerry West, right, as new president of basketball operations and Gary Colson, left, was introduced as West’s assistant April 30, 2002, at an NBA news conference in Memphis, Tenn. Colson, who helped lobby to introduce the 3-point shot to men’s college basketball during a 34-year coaching career that included stops at Fresno State, New Mexico and Pepperdine, died Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. He was 89.
Former University of New Mexico men’s basketball coach Gary Colson at a news conference during a visit back to UNM
in 2019.
Former UNM basketball player Hunter Greene, left, greets his former coach, Gary Colson on the floor of the Pit in 2019.