Garland turned to coaching after his graduation and began his career at Greenfield-Central High School as the coach of the basketball, baseball and cross country teams. He joined the Indiana State Sycamores men's basketball team as an assistant coach in 1967. Garland also served as the head coach of the Sycamores golf team for four seasons until his resignation from the university in 1975. He returned to high school coaching when he served as head basketball coach at Evansville Harrison High School for four seasons.
Garland was hired as the head coach and athletic director of the IUPUI Jaguars men's basketball team in 1979. He led the team to its first winning season in school history during the 1980–81 season but his career was prematurely ended when he stepped down due to health issues midway through the 1981–82 season. Garland continued to serve as athletic director until his death from leukemia on March 5, 1983.
High school and college career
Garland in 1960
Melvyn J. Garland was born on June 23, 1942, in Indianapolis, Indiana.[1] He attended Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis, where he played basketball and baseball.[2] Garland was the Indiana Athlete of the Year and led the basketball team to a regional title during his senior season.[2] He graduated in 1960.[2]
In 1967, Garland was hired to join the Indiana State Sycamores men's basketball team to serve as assistant coach.[3] He also served as the head coach of the Sycamores golf team for four years.[3] On March 7, 1975, Garland resigned from Indiana State alongside head coach Gordon Stauffer and assistant coach Jim Morris after the basketball team posted a second straight losing season.[5] Garland joined Evansville Harrison High School as head coach of the basketball team from 1975 to 1979.[3]
In 1979, Garland was appointed the head coach and athletic director of the IUPUI Jaguars men's basketball team.[6] He compiled the first winning season in Jaguars history during the 1980–81 season.[7][8] He amassed a 31–38 record over two-and-a-half seasons coached.[7] Garland stepped down as coach mid-way through the 1981–82 season due to health problems but continued to serve as athletic director.[1][9] He recommended that Robert Lovell serve as his replacement[a] and remained close to the team.[6][9]
He was posthumously inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993 and the IUPUI Athletics Hall of Fame in 1995.[2][8] IUPUI established the Mel Garland Memorial Scholarship that is awarded annually to an athlete who embodies the spirit of Garland.[8] Former IUPUI Athletics Director Hugh Wolf stated of Garland: "In many respects Mel Garland was the person who first caused the Indianapolis community to take notice of the IUPUI athletic program."[8]
Notes
↑Lovell served as head coach of the Jaguars from 1982 to 1994.[7]
