Building basketball success in Big Orange Country : the Ray Mears era in Tennessee basketbell

This work focuses on the Ray Mears era as coach in the basketball history at The University of Tennessee, 1962-1978. The description and analysis of this era was the focus of this study. An effort has been made to answer why this era was significant in the history of athletics at the school and to analyze the qualities associated with Ray Mears that allowed this period to be deemed successful. Oral interviews and newspapers were the main sources utilized in the gathering of data. Through the analysis of these sources the conclusion can be drawn that the qualities Mears possessed in the areas of strategy, promotion, preparation, and motivation combined with an intense drive to excel allowed for the development of a successful basketball program during this era at The University of Tennessee.