Rhodes Athletic Hall of Fame
Playing point guard for two of the best teams in Southwestern at Memphis men’s basketball history, Matt Bakke led the Lynx in assists and minutes played and averaged eight points per game, all while defending the best guards on opposing teams. Bakke was the glue that held the team together and made everyone better. He helped guide the Lynx to national rankings in 1980 and 1981, with the Lynx earning a ranking as high as seventh in the nation.
According to Hall of Fame coach Herb Hilgeman, “Bakke was a competitor who could do it all—lead, pass, shoot, play defense, and make clutch plays. He was the coach on the court.” During the 1979-80 and 1980-81 seasons, the Lynx won the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference and played in the NCAA Tournament.
Bakke is also in the Rhodes College Hall of Fame as a member of the 1980-81 men’s basketball team, inducted in 2017. He was also inducted into the Southwest Tennessee Community College Hall of Fame in 2004 for his playing days (1977-79) prior to joining the Southwestern squad.
After graduation, Bakke was an assistant coach at Rhodes for eight years. He then went on to be a successful high school coach at Memphis University School for basketball, cross country, and track, and now serves as the assistant athletic director.
In recognition for his dedication to men’s basketball as a player and coach, and for his continued success in helping to shape young men within the Memphis community, we are honored to induct Matthew Bakke into the Rhodes College Athletic Hall of Fame this 15th day of November, 2019.
