# Harry Combes

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Not to be confused with [Harry Combs](/source/Harry_Combs_(disambiguation)).

**Harry Combes** (March 3, 1915 – November 13, 1977), a native of [Monticello, Illinois](/source/Monticello,_Illinois), served as head men's basketball coach at [University of Illinois](/source/University_of_Illinois_at_Urbana-Champaign) between 1947 and 1967.

## Biography

Combes played high school basketball for [Monticello High School](/source/Monticello_High_School_(Illinois)), where he led his teams to an overall combined record of 72–9 when he graduated in 1933.[1]

A three-year letterwinner, Combes was also a star player for the [Illini](/source/Illinois_Fighting_Illini_men's_basketball) from 1935 to 1937 and helped lead Illinois to both its Big Ten titles in the 1930s.

Combes began coaching basketball at [Champaign High School](/source/Champaign_Central_High_School), where he posted an astounding 254–46 record, including winning the state title in 1946. Beyond the single championship, Combes led Champaign Central to seven state tournament appearances in nine years from 1939 to 1947. During that time the *Maroons* captured fourth place in 1940 and 1944 before starting three years of amazing runs to the championship game where they finished second in 1945, first in 1946, and second in 1947. In 2007, the [Illinois High School Association](/source/Illinois_High_School_Association) named Combes one of the [100 Legends of the IHSA Boys Basketball Tournament](/source/100_Legends_of_the_IHSA_Boys_Basketball_Tournament).[2]

Combes also served as boys baseball coach at Champaign High School, where he compiled an impressive 70–26–2 (.724) record over a five-year period (1937–1942).

Once at [Illinois](/source/University_of_Illinois_at_Urbana-Champaign) he won three Big Ten titles in his first five seasons (1949, 1951, and 1952). Combes led Illinois to three third-place finishes in the [NCAA tournament](/source/NCAA_Men's_Division_I_Basketball_Championship) in the four-year period from 1949 to 1952. The squad won 79 of the 100 games during those four years. Illinois' 1952 Final Four appearance was the first officially recognized Final Four, and the three third-place finishes would be the Illini's deepest runs in the tournament until the 1989 team made the Final Four. Until [Lou Henson](/source/Lou_Henson) broke the record in 1990, Combes' 316 wins were the most wins ever by an Illinois head basketball coach.[3]

Combes, along with his assistant coach [Howie Braun](/source/Howie_Braun) and head [football](/source/Illinois_Fighting_Illini_football) coach [Pete Elliott](/source/Pete_Elliott), were pressured into resigning on March 19, 1967 by the university which was threatened with expulsion by the [Big Ten Conference](/source/Big_Ten_Conference) over a [slush fund scandal](/source/University_of_Illinois_slush_fund_scandal).[4] He was succeeded by [Harv Schmidt](/source/Harv_Schmidt) ten days later on March 29.[5]

He died in Champaign on November 13, 1977.[6]

## Head coaching record

### High school

School Season Record Postseason Champaign HS 1938–39 18–9 State Quarterfinals Champaign HS 1939–40 26–8 State Semifinals Champaign HS 1940–41 26–3 Champaign HS 1941–42 22–7 Champaign HS 1942–43 25–6 State Quarterfinals Champaign HS 1943–44 31–6 State Semifinals Champaign HS 1944–45 34–2 State Championship (Runner-up) Champaign HS 1945–46 38–1 State Championship Champaign HS 1946–47 34–4 State Championship (Runner-up) Total Champaign HS 254–46 88–47

## See also

- [List of NCAA Division I Men's Final Four appearances by coach](/source/List_of_NCAA_Division_I_Men's_Final_Four_appearances_by_coach)

## References

1. [http://216.171.59.248/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=167&Itemid=229](http://216.171.59.248/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=167&Itemid=229)

1. ["IHSA: Illinois High School Association"](http://www.ihsa.org/initiatives/legends/index.htm). *www.ihsa.org*. Retrieved 2026-05-15.

1. 2004–2005 University of Illinois Men's Basketball Program

1. ["Slush Fund Scandal: Three Illini Coaches Quit," *United Press International* (UPI), Monday, March 20, 1967.](https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=DS19670320.2.61&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1) Retrieved July 29, 2020

1. ["Illinois Names Coaches," *The Associated Press* (AP), Thursday, March 30, 1967 (scroll down to page 7).](https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3073&context=bg-news) Retrieved July 29, 2020

1. ["Harry Combes Dies"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87206087/harry-combes-dies/). *[Herald & Review](/source/Herald_%26_Review)*. AP. 1977-11-14. p. 11. Retrieved 2021-10-16. – via Newspapers.com.

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