ARLINGTON, Texas – Former UT Arlington men's basketball head coach Bob "Snake" LeGrand will be posthumously inducted into the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame (TBSHOF) this weekend. LeGrand was the first Black head basketball coach in both Texas NCAA Division I and UTA history.
 
LeGrand was UTA's head coach from 1976-87 and was the first coach in school history to reach 100 wins. In 1981, he led the Mavericks to their first-ever 20-win season and an NIT appearance when he was named Southland Conference Coach of the Year. LeGrand began his college coaching career as an assistant at UTA in 1975, and was instrumental in establishing the UTA Movin' Mavs wheelchair basketball program.

After his time on the sidelines at UT Arlington, LeGrand became a counselor at Lamar High School in Arlington, 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 passed away July 19, 2025. He is survived by his wife, Gloria, his sons Brian, Chris, Bobby and Aurice, daughters Lisa and Brianna, and 10 grandchildren.

The 2026 Class of Inductees enshrinement is Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at the Renaissance Dallas Hotel. Individual tickets are available for $125 at aamdallas.org/events.
 
Four-time NBA All-Star and Dallas Mavericks legend Rolando Blackmon is the honorary chair of the 30th annual event. Kicking off the celebratory weekend, a Friday night reception at 6:30 p.m. is planned at the African American Museum in honor of the inductees.

In addition to LeGrand, the TBSHOF will recognize 13 other history-making figures across the Lone Star State: Lovie Smith (coach), Jerry Mumphrey (baseball), C.J. Miles Jr. (basketball), LaQuan Stallworth (basketball), Cydryce McMillian (coach), Winston Hill (football, posthumously), Johnny Roland (football), Dwain Price (journalism), Dick Hall (soccer), Leslie Oduwole (tennis), Sara Davis (track), Anthony Reed (track and field) and William "Po Bill" Patterson (contributor).

The Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame, housed at the African American Museum, Dallas at Fair Park, was established in 1996 to chronicle the sports history contributions made by African Americans. Each year, the ceremony honors coaches and athletes of high character and athletic achievement, who are either Texans by birth or by athletic participation (collegiate or professional), and who have made recognizable contributions to African American culture and/or history. The public submits the nominees, and a panel of judges (including sports/media journalists) makes the final selection.
 
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