MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Former Memphis Tiger men's basketball All-American center and later head coach Wayne Yates passed away Aug. 16 in his hometown of Natchitoches, La. He was 84.
Yates arrived at the University of Memphis, then Memphis State University, in 1959 and played his junior and senior seasons for the Tigers after transferring from New Mexico State. As a senior, Yates was named an All-American after averaging 17.5 points and 14.4 rebounds per game, and he was drafted fifth overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1961 NBA Draft.
Yates entered the coaching profession in 1969 as an assistant coach under Tiger head coach Moe Iba, and he then served as an assistant coach under Gene Bartow for four seasons from 1970-74.