RMAC Hall of Fame

Fort Hays State University
Years Attended/Coached: 1991-1997
Degrees Earned/Year: Bachelor of Science degree 1980, University of Wisconsin, Lacrosse. Master of Science degree (Administration of Physical Education and Athletic Programs) 1981, University of Illinois, Chicago.
Sports Played/Coached: Men's basketball
Administration/Coaching Positions Held: Head men's basketball coach

Administration/Coaching Accomplishments:
In Garner's fifth season as head coach at Fort Hays State University, he guided the Tigers to their first ever NCAA II Men's National Basketball Championship, winning with a 34-0 record. Only two other NCAA II Championship teams have finished the season undefeated by FHSU's 34 wins surpassed the old mark of the 1993 Cal-State Bakersfield squad 33-0. The last NCAA team to go undefeated was the 1976 University of Indiana Hoosiers. FHSU captured the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference crown three times under Garner. The Tiger's undefeated conference mark of 16-0 was the first time in history of the RMAC that a men's basketball team has gone undefeated.
Garner was named Sears/National Association of Basketball Coaches Coach of the Year, Moltens/Division II Bulletin Coach of the Year and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Coach of the Year during the 1995-96 season.
With six seasons as head coach at FHSU, Garner was 138-44, raking him fifth in total victories and second in winning percentage at .758 among Tiger men's basketball coaches. Under Garner's leadership, FHSU made four consecutive trips to the NCAA II playoffs by winning the RMAC postseason tournament.
Garner was only the second coach in school history to record four consecutive 20 win seasons and the third coach to attain 30 wins in a season. 
Garner was out of coaching for two years prior to being named the 12^th men's basketball coach at FHSU on April 16, 1991. He spent seven years at Drake University. Garner took the Bulldogs to the National Invitation Tournament in 1986 in a season that Drake compiled at 19-11 record.
The West Plains, Missouri native earned a scholarship to the University of Missouri following a stellar prep career where he was named a first team all-state guard. Garner was a three-year varsity letter winner at Missouri. As a senior captain he average 15 points a game earning second team all-conference honors as the Tiger's placed third in the Big Eight.
Following his playing days at Mizzou, Garner stayed on from 1965-67 as the team's graduate assistant. He coached Kempe Military Academy in Boonville, Missouri (1967-1971) and later was head coach and athletic director at Trenton, MO. He left the junior college ranks for a one year stint at Missouri Southern State College where he coached against FHSU in the now defunct Central States Intercollegiate Conference.
Garner returned to Missouri to serve as an assistant with Norm Stewart. While he was on the staff at Mizzou, the Tigers won two Big Eight titles and advanced to the NCAA I postseason tournament three times. Garner is credited with recruiting such standout players as Steve Stipanovich and Jon Sunvold who led the Tigers to four straight conference titles, two of which followed his departure from Drake.  
Highlights of Garner's career at Drake include the NIT berth in 1986, DU's first postseason berth since 1981 and only third in 20 years. He was named the Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the year in 1981-1982 and runner-up for the same honor in 1986. In his first season at Drake, Garner's squad led the MVC in scoring defense. The Bulldogs again led the league in scoring defense in 1985-1986 while also posting the best numbers in point scored per game. Garner left DU as the school's third winningest coach of all-time with 95 victories.   
Civic Activities:
Optimist Club, Youth School Program, Kiwanis Club, Rotary Club, and Tiger Club.

Nominator Name: Tom Spicer
Position: Director of Athletics
School: Fort Hays State University