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BORN
1940
DIED
2025
Gene Iba Obituary
11/05/1940 - 09/22/2025
Gene Iba, hall of fame basketball coach, passed away peacefully on September 22nd. He is survived by his wife, Sandy, and their three daughters, Debbie, Erin, and Kelly. Iba served as head coach at Houston Baptist, Baylor, and Pittsburg State. He will be remembered for his dedication to the game, his players, and most of all, his family. He loved fishing, golf, and time spent with his grandkids. Celebration of life to be held in October in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Gene Iba
Roy Jones Husky '79 - 81
October 21, 2025
All of the Iba family are in our thoughts! Coach was truly legendary in so many ways!!
Mick Wilson
October 17, 2025
What a positive influence in my life! Coach Iba, Thank you for support and guidance.
Maurice Black
October 16, 2025
Sorry to hear about the passing of Coach Iba. He was truly a great inspiration to coaching and basketball. May his memories be a blessing to his family. Maurice Black of Sunset,La.
Herb Baker
October 6, 2025
Coach Iba took a chance on me as a young player in 1990, I am forever grateful for the opportunity he gave me and my family. Although my time at Baylor didn't end as expected, I took life lessons from Coach Iba that I still share with young student-athletes-athletes today. He was a sound coach, a disciplinarian and a leader of men. As a young man, I didn't always agree with it understand his methods or the message he was trying to share but I am proud to say that I figured things out later on in life. May God bless your soul Coach Iba, thank you for sharing your beautiful family with me and putting up with my knucklehead behavior as a kid. I love you Coach, see you on the other side
Herb Baker
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Erin Iba
October 3, 2025
Celebration of Life
October 19th at 1pm
Reynolds Center Basketball Arena
Tulsa, Oklahoma
RSVP -
Kelly: [email protected] or
Erin: [email protected]
Upload photos to share: https://www.tributeslides.com/up/15032366064942
Daniel Henderson
October 3, 2025
I had the pleasure of meeting Gene and all of his family when he came to Baylor in the early to mid 1980's. To me, he was a true and loyal friend. He was a regular @ my restaurant I owned and I have many fond memories of knowing him. My heart goes out to his family, especially his wife Sandy. May God fill your lives with love and grace!!
David Chandler
October 2, 2025
As the athletic trainer for men´s basketball at Baylor during Coach Iba´s time he was disciplined, and tough. I enjoyed working for him because you always knew what to expect from him, very straightforward. God Bless the Iba family!
Blake Burleson
October 2, 2025
As the Academic Coordinator of the Baylor Athletic Department, I had the opportunity to work closely Coach Iba for a few years. He was a straight shooter, tough, honest, and loyal. May he rest in peace. Sic em Bears!
Erin Iba
October 2, 2025
Dad and mom had a great life together. So much joy!
Vern Pflieger
October 1, 2025
So Sorry to hear of Gene Iba's passing. He was a classmate of ours at Central High School, shot a lot of Baskets with Gene. Great Guy, and such a pleasure to have known him. May the Good Lord Rest you in Heaven and God Bless his Family and Many, Many Friends
Pat Jones
October 1, 2025
Good man, outstanding coach!!RIP Gene!!
Christine Babcock Payne
October 1, 2025
I knew Gene when he was a Kappa Sigma at the University of Tulsa and I was at Stephen's College. After graduation from Oklahoma State University, his first coaching job was in St Louis, Missouri, where I was living at the time. He was a good friend and one of the nicest people I have ever known. My condolences go to his family. May he rest in peace.
Dr. Jim Taylor
September 29, 2025
He was a good friend during our time together at HBU. Gene was a great coach and even better at helping his players move forward in life. And he had a colorful vocabulary that was not always heard on a Baptist campus. Gene will be missed and his memory cherished.
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