ARLINGTON, Texas – UT Arlington's Division of Intercollegiate Athletics family lost an icon this past week when former men's basketball head coach Bob "Snake" LeGrand passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 19.
 
Coach LeGrand's family will host a memorial service on campus on Wednesday, July 30. Information on the memorial and funeral is available here. Guests may park in lot F8, lot 34 and the west campus parking garage. A campus parking map is linked here.
 
"We are incredibly saddened by Coach LeGrand's passing," UTA Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Jon Fagg said. "He was a wonderful ambassador for UTA and our athletics programs and a pillar within this community. We will greatly miss having him around the College Park Center and his spirit and legacy will live on for generations to come."
 
LeGrand was UTA's men's basketball coach from 1976-1987. He led the Mavericks to their first-ever 20-win season and an NIT appearance in 1981 when he was named Southland Conference Coach of the Year. LeGrand was the first UTA coach to win 100 games and began his college coaching career as an assistant at UTA in 1975 before becoming the program's first-ever black head coach. He also was instrumental in establishing the UTA Movin' Mavs wheelchair basketball program.
 
Born in New York on August 8, 1943, LeGrand spent his early childhood in the Empire State until moving to Virginia at around the age of seven. He attended Central State University for one year before joining the U.S. Air Force. He trained in Mississippi before serving two years in England and ultimately ended up in San Antonio.
 
After concluding his military service in 1967, LeGrand attended St. Mary's University, where he was inducted as a Hall of Fame member in 1987. Prior to his time coaching at UTA, LeGrand coached high school basketball.
 
LeGrand then became a counselor at Lamar High School in Arlington and spent 14 years in that role before retiring in 2011. He was also a life member of the Fort Worth Alumni chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi, Incorporated and is celebrated for his philanthropic work in the community.
 
LeGrand is survived by his wife, Gloria LeGrand, his sons Brian, Chris, Bobby and Aurice, daughters Lisa and Brianna, and 10 grandchildren.
 
FOLLOW THE MAVS SOCIALLY
For up-to-date news, photos and videos, follow UTA Athletics online at UTAMavs.com or via several social media accounts on X @UTAMavs, Instagram @UTAMavs and Facebook /UTAMavs.