Ex-BU coach Bob Vanatta dies at 98

Bob Vanatta, who coached Bradley basketball to the NCAA Elite Eight in 1954-55, died last month in Jupiter, Fla., at the age of 98.

Vanatta coached the Braves for just two years, going 9-20 in '54-55 and 13-13 the following year. Earlier in his career, he coached the school that is now Missouri State to back-to-back NAIA national championships.

Vanatta played college ball at Central Methodist and began his coaching career there, going 61-20 for three years before moving to coach at Southwest Missouri State for three seasons (73-12). He spent one year at Army (15-7) before his BU stint.

Then it was on to Memphis State for six years (109-34), coaching the Tigers to the NIT finals in 1956-57. He…