Former MTSU basketball coach and Athletic Director Jimmy Earl was honored during halftime of the UAB at Middle Tennessee basketball game. Middle renamed the arena in his honor. The arena will now be called the Monty Hale/Jimmy Earle Arena.
Earle coached the Blue raiders from 1969-1979. During his tenure he led Middle to two OVC Championships and their first two NCAA appearances. His record of 164 career wins stood until Kermit Davis surpassed him in 2011.
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”62″ gal_title=”Jimmy Earle”]“He really built the Murphy Center, and he’s the foundation of our basketball program,” Chris Massaro, Director of Athletics, said. “It’s an appropriate day, and it was really meaningful for us to be able to do that for him. Coach Earle has meant so much to this athletics department and university. It’s an honor to rename the arena after him alongside Monte Hale.”
Very nice tribute, what an honor to be there.