A pioneer athlete and coach at the University of Akron and in the Akron school system, Alex Adams, set records and broke barriers throughout his life.He was the first black head coach at UA. He was one of the university’s most celebrated athletes. His No. 55 jersey was retired and hangs inside Rhodes Arena.The Akron native died of heart disease July 22 at his home in Ocala, Fla. He was 76.Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church, 606 SW Broadway in Ocala.“He was a passionate man, passionate about life. He was strong and competitive and had the soul of an athlete,” said his wife, Sheila, of 18 years. “He was always an educator. He loved to educate the children on issues. He always had a lesson for them, but he gave life lessons.“He was ‘old school.’ He liked things done right and on time. He liked to set an example for others, but he wanted people to understand the value behind the lesson — and that’s a deeper message.”Mr. Adams’ daughter, Tracy Adams-Smith, of Winnetka, Calif. said he was definitely a stickler for being on time, no matter who you were.“I was a freshman at Akron U and got lost on campus I couldn’t find my health class. He was my instructor. When I showed up late he said, ‘Young lady, if you come late again for my class again, I will deduct points,’ I dropped the class.”She said her dad made a lot of sacrifices for the family.“He and my mother married young, so they already had children when he was in school. He was a postman, janitor, and his senior year carried a full load — 18-20 credits — and still maintained a high GPA. He said he needed to graduate to work full time to provide for his family.”Mr. Adams had an invitation to play in the NBA with the Baltimore Bullets, but he declined. The pay was not lucrative enough.He was a four-year letterman in football, basketball and track at Garfield High. He was an all-city and all-district football and basketball player and all-state in track. He graduated in 1953.“He was the greatest athlete to come out of Akron. He wasn’t just good in basketball, he was an all-around athlete who was a star in three sports,” said longtime friend, Benny Averiette, of New Jersey. “In high school, he won state in track, beating [Glenn] ‘Jeep’ Davis of Barberton, and Davis went on to be an Olympic champion. That’s how good he was.” Mr. Adams, along with Averiette, in 1953 were the first blacks to play basketball at UA. Mr. Adams became UA’s all-time high scorer with 1,442 points. The 6-foot-4 forward won the Mike Gregory Award as the Ohio Conference’s Most Valuable Player in 1961 and was voted honorable mention on the United Press Little All-America squad. In his senior year he averaged team-highs of 19.4 points and 11.6 rebounds. He also led the team in scoring at 16.8 points and rebounding at 10.1 as a junior.Mr. Adams was also a standout in track and field at UA. He competed as a sprinter, hurdler and high jumper. He was the all-Ohio and Ohio Conference sprint champion and the NCAA Midwest Regional high jump champion.He was named the head coach for the men’s basketball team in the 1975-1976 season, which ended with a 10-14 record. Prior to his appointment, he was an assistant under former basketball head coach Wyatt Webb.Mr. Adams remains the only black head coach UA has hired.He also directed the Zips’ junior varsity basketball team from 1961 to 1963, as a student coach, turning in a record of 35-7.Former UA teammate Harvey Munford of Las Vegas said Mr. Adams was the best athlete he has known.“I wanted to be like Alex. I use to hitchhike rides to watch him play on the other side of town in Akron,” Munford said. “His name was always in the paper. He was the fastest runner in the entire city. As a wide receiver he would leave everyone in the dust. When he played basketball, on a reverse [pivot], he would leave his opponents like they were standing still.”He said Mr. Adams taught him the fundamentals of basketball. He was a few years older but he caught up with him on the basketball court at UA because Mr. Adams left school to attend Moorehouse for a year, then joined the Air Force for another two years before returning to UA.“There were never any issues with us. We had a more mature team,” said teammate Richard Neil of Akron. “Most of us were Korean War veterans, so we were vets in both senses.”Ken MacDonald, who attended and graduated from high school with Mr. Adams in 1953, refers to his former classmate as the most decorated high school athlete at the school. He said by the time his former classmate returned to UA he was there, too.“I saw him in every basketball game he played and most of his track meets. He was the most versatile athlete,” MacDonald said. “When the university started its hall of fame, he was one of the 20 charter members. He was the only black charter member. He was without a doubt an all-time great athlete.”In his four years with the Zips, UA won 80 basketball games and lost 29. He was a co-captain.“He was the all-time high scorer in his career,” MacDonald said. “His team in the 1958-1959 season still holds the record of the most consecutive wins. Akron lost the first game, then won 21 games straight, but lost the last game in the Ohio Conference championship.”Mr. Adams earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education and history in 1962 and a master’s degree in educational administration from Akron in 1970. He was honored with the University of Akron College of Education Distinguished Alumni Award in 2009, given for achievement in the education field and significant contribution to the community. He was inducted in the Summit County Sports Hall of Fame in 1968.He also headed the National Summer Youth Sports Program at the University of Akron sponsored by the NCAA. “He was a natural athlete. He was quiet, but firm,” said Roger Johnson of Akron. “He was also helpful off the court. He was an avid golfer and gave me my first set of golf clubs.”Former player Leonard Paul of Cleveland described Mr. Adams as very serious and always focused, who wore a lot of hats.“He was very businesslike. He was a great scout and that’s a big part of the game and he was a great game planner. I never heard him speak ill of other people. He always had a positive attitude and was always checking with us about our classes.Mr. Adams started his teaching career in Akron Public Schools. He taught history, first at North High School, then at Firestone.Former Firestone High student Tim Norris, now a journalist, paid homage to him in a 2008 newspaper article in Patterson, N.J., telling readers how Mr. Adams had changed his life.“He taught me that real history was not a set of concepts and labels, anymore than a human being is. History is human experience, individual lives. Lives that were lived — that are being lived. In showing us himself, Mr. Adams invited us in.”As the first black coach at Firestone, he compiled a 60-19 record in baskeball, collecting one city title and one sectional championship. In cross country, his team recorded 84 wins and six losses and finished second in the state in 1965.He also coached track in 1964 and 1965 and finished with a 13-7 dual record.Frank Lomax said his good friend of 50 years would strive for excellence in everything.“We raised our children at the same time. He was strong, responsible, enjoyed life and enjoyed people,” Lomax said. “He had a lot of friends and valued friendship. He passed on that same desire to achieve in all five of his children.”His son, Michael of New York, an author and artist, said his father encouraged him to play sports, saying it would be good for him and would build self-confidence. He said athletics is a little slice of life.“You win sometimes and lose sometimes and you have to be conditioned to both, but must take them in proper perspective.” Michael Adams said He said only one of his siblings dabbled in sports. The others didn’t have much athleticism — and none could compare to his father.Alex Adams also leaves to mourn his other children: Deborah Parham of Cincinnati, Tina Littlepage of Birmingham, Ala., and Valerie Adams of Akron.Marilyn Miller can be reached at 330-996-3098 or mmiller@thebeaconjournal.com.