Former Vanderbilt Basketball Coach Roy Skinner Dies

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Roy Skinner, the quiet and dapper basketball coach at Vanderbilt as the Commodores emerged as a Southeastern Conference power to rival Kentucky, has died. He was 80.

Skinner died at a Nashville hospital Monday of respiratory failure.

In the mid-1960s, Skinner made the groundbreaking decision to recruit Perry Wallace, integrating the SEC with its first black player.

Skinner was just 28 years old when he became acting coach of the Commodores in 1958, then took the job permanently in 1960 and coached until 1976, compiling a 278-135 record (.673) and leading Vanderbilt to a Top 10 ranking in eight different seasons.

Skinner was born in Paducah, Ky. He began coaching at Paducah Junior College before joining the Vanderbilt staff.

A memorial service will be Saturday at Benton Chapel at Vanderbilt. Survivors include his wife, three sons and two daughters.