FHSU Basketball: A Tradition of Excellence

The FHSU men’s basketball team has a long tradition of excellence, appearing in the NCAA Division II tournament 19 times. The team has also won two National Championships and six conference championships

Introduction

Fort Hays State University has a long and storied tradition of excellence in basketball. The Tigers have won numerous conference championships and made several appearances in the NCAA Division II tournament over the years. In recent years the team has continued to perform at a high level, winning back-to-back conference titles in 2017 and 2018.

The Tigers are coached by Mark Johnson who is entering his sixth season at the helm of the program. Coach Johnson has led the team to tremendous success, including a berth in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division II tournament in 2016. Under his guidance, the Tigers have established themselves as one of the premier programs in Division II basketball.

The 18-19 season promises to be an exciting one for Tiger fans. The team is loaded with talent and experience, and they will be looking to make another deep run in the NCAA tournament Be sure to follow all the action here on FHSU Basketball: A Tradition of Excellence!

The Early Years

FHSU Basketball has a long and storied history, dating back to the early years of the program. The team has seen many Great players and coaches come through its ranks, and has won numerous conference and national championships.

The Early Years
The FHSU Basketball Program began in 1902, when the university was known as Kansas State Normal School. The team played its first game against a local YMCA team, losing 28-22. The following year, the Normalites beat the YMCA squad in a rematch, beginning a long tradition of excellence on the hardwood.

Throughout the early years of the program, the team experienced much success, winning several conference championships. In 1909, under Head Coach Edwin A. Hays, the Normalites went undefeated in their first season as members of the Kansas collegiate athletic conference (KCAC). They would go on to win KCAC titles in 1911, 1912, 1913 and 1914. In 1915, they made their first appearance in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament losing in the first round.

In 1923, coach Hays led the team to another undefeated season and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament However, they would lose again in the first round. In 1924, Hays left Kansas State Normal to become head coach at Kansas State University He would be replaced by Maurice J. Ballance, who would lead the team to two more conference championships in 1925 and 1926.

The First Golden Era

FHSU basketball golden eras are generally considered to be the 1950s and early 1960s, and the late 1970s through the mid-1980s. The program earned its first NCAA Division I berth in 1958. The 1960s saw FHSU teams win Kansas Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC) championships five times. The Tigers also qualified for the NCAA Division II tournament four times during the decade, highlighted by a run to the Elite Eight in 1963. FHSU joined the Midwest Intercollegiate Basketball Association (MIBA) in 1968, and won regular season conference titles in 1971, 1972, 1974 and 1975.

The Second Golden Era

In the late 1940s and early 1950s, the Tigers Basketball team enjoyed what has come to be known as their “second golden era ” This was a time when they won two conference championships and made three trips to the NCAA tournament The core of this successful team was a group of talented student-athletes who went on to have successful careers in the NBA, including Elgin Baylor and Vern Mikkelsen.

The Modern Era

In the modern ERA the FHSU men’s basketball team has continued its tradition of excellence. The Tigers have made 16 appearances in the NCAA Division II tournament, and have won four conference championships. In the last decade, FHSU has averaged over 20 wins per season, and has been ranked in the top 25 nationally on several occasions. The Tigers have also produced a number of All-American and Academic All-American players and have had numerous alumni go on to successful careers in Professional Basketball

The Current Team

The Current Team
The Fort Hays State University men’s Basketball team is currently coached by Mark Johnson and Assistant Coach Craig McAndrews. The team has been very successful in recent years making it to the NCAA Division II tournament four times in the last six years. Their most recent appearance was in 2019, when they made it to the Elite Eight. The team is composed of many talented players, including senior guard Jared Vitztum, who was named the 2020 MIAA Defensive Player of the Year. With such a strong team, FHSU is poised for another successful season in 2020-2021.

The Future

The future of the FHSU Basketball Program looks bright. The team has a strong core of returning players, and the Coaching Staff is committed to recruiting and developing talented players. The team will continue to compete at a high level in the conference and NCAA tournament

The Fans

No matter what conference or division FHSU teams play in, our fans are always there to support them. From the packed stands at Gross Memorial Coliseum to die-hard supporters following the Tigers on the road, FHSU fans show their loyalty in many ways. They also take great pride in our tradition of excellence, and rightly so!

FHSU teams have won numerous conference and division championships, as well as national championships in both basketball and track & field. Our athletes have earned All-American honors in many different sports, and our fans have been there to cheer them on every step of the way.

Whether you’re a longtime fan or just getting to know us, we welcome you to join us in supporting the Tigers!

The Legacy

Fort Hays State University has a long and storied tradition of excellence in basketball. The Tigers have won 6 conference championships and 2 NCAA Division II National Championships in their history. The program has produced a number of NBA players including Mitch Richmond, who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014.

Current Head Coach Mark Johnson has continued the tradition of success, leading the Tigers to 3 conference championships and 2 NCAA Division II Elite Eight appearances in his tenure. The Tigers are consistently one of the top teams in the nation, and are a perennial contender for the national title.

The FHSU Basketball Program is a source of pride for the university and the community, and is one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II history.

Conclusion

Since its inception in 1902, the FHSU basketball program has a long and storied history of success. The team has won numerous conference titles and made many appearances in the NCAA Division I Tournament. In recent years the team has continued to thrive, making it one of the most successful programs in the country. The future looks bright for the Tigers, as they continue to recruiting top talent and strive for excellence on the court.