Harley Redin

Born on August 29, 1919 in the tiny town of Silverton, Texas, Harley Redin was a child of the Great Depression, a survivor of the Dust Bowl, and a proud member of the Greatest Generation. After serving as a Marine bomber pilot during World War II, Redin returned home in search of steady pay and a better life. He found both at Wayland Baptist University, a small Southern Baptist school located in the windswept town of Plainview, Texas. Redin worked in the physical education department. In the afternoon, he coached the men’s basketball team, but he often found himself distracted by other interests. The Lone Star State was a hotbed for women’s basketball in those days. Soon, Redin found himself attending the women’s practices. And soon, Redin found himself falling in love with the women’s game. He took over the women’s program in 1955, and by the end of the decade, the Flying Queens had won three AAU national championships. Redin preached uptempo basketball, forced rules changes, and fashioned a dynasty at Wayland Baptist. Under Redin, the small Bible school won six national titles, ran up 431 wins, captured five consecutive WNIT crowns, and propelled the women’s game into the modern era.