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→Background
Fant was born in Hamilton in Marion County in northwestern [[Alabama]]. He graduated from Lee High School in Columbus in Lowndes County in northeastern [[Mississippi]]. From 1946 to 1949, he played basketball at the [[Methodist]]-affiliated Centenary College of Louisiana in [[Shreveport]]. He led the team, known as the Gents, to a 21–16 record and a second place finish in the newly formed Gulf States Conference.<ref name=gents>{{cite web|url=http://www.centenary.edu/news/1997/March/hallfa97.html|title=Centenary Athletic Hall of Fame Announces New Inductees|dagte=March 1997|publisher=centenary.edu|accessdate=January 5, 2009}}</ref> He obtained his master’s degree from the [[University of Alabama]] at [[Tuscaloosa, Alabama|Tuscaloosa]]. From 1950 to 1953, Fant coached at Delhi High School in Delhi in Richland Parish in northeast Louisiana. For the 1953-1954 season, Fant was the athletic director and head coach at [[Baptist]]-affiliated [[Louisiana College]] in [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]]. From 1954 to 1957, he coached at East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, [[Texas]].<ref name=fant>{{cite web|url=http://www.bayou.com/~suelynn/obituaries/lofobit.html|author=Paul J. Letlow|title=Coliseum funeral put coach back on court he loved|publisher=''The Monroe New- Star''|date= October 15, 1998}}</ref>
Fant was born in Hamilton in Marion County in northwestern [[Alabama]]. He graduated from Lee High School in Columbus in Lowndes County in northeastern [[Mississippi]]. From 1946 to 1949, he played basketball at the [[Methodist]]-affiliated Centenary College of Louisiana in [[Shreveport]]. He led the team, known as the Gents, to a 21–16 record and a second place finish in the newly formed Gulf States Conference.<ref name=gents>{{cite web|url=http://www.centenary.edu/news/1997/March/hallfa97.html|title=Centenary Athletic Hall of Fame Announces New Inductees|dagte=March 1997|publisher=centenary.edu|accessdate=January 5, 2009}}</ref> He obtained his master’s degree from the [[University of Alabama]] at [[Tuscaloosa, Alabama|Tuscaloosa]]. From 1950 to 1953, Fant coached at Delhi High School in Delhi in Richland Parish in northeast Louisiana. For the 1953-1954 season, Fant was the athletic director and head coach at [[Baptist]]-affiliated [[Louisiana College]] in [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]]. From 1954 to 1957, he coached at East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, [[Texas]].<ref name=fant>{{cite web|url=http://www.bayou.com/~suelynn/obituaries/lofobit.html|author=Paul J. Letlow|title=Coliseum funeral put coach back on court he loved|publisher=''The Monroe New- Star''|date= October 15, 1998}}</ref>
==Northeast Louisiana University==
==Northeast Louisiana University==
Thereafter, at ULM, then known as Northeast Louisiana State College and then Northeast Louisiana State University (NLU), Fant's teams won seven conference and/or district championships. After overall losses in the 1957-1961 seasons, Fant compiled eighteen consecutive winning seasons at NLU.<ref name=fant/> Upon his retirement in 1979, he completed his single-most successful record, 23-6.<ref name=fant/>
Thereafter, at ULM, then known as Northeast Louisiana State College and then Northeast Louisiana State University (NLU), Fant's teams won seven conference and/or district championships. After overall losses in the 1957-1961 seasons, Fant compiled eighteen consecutive winning seasons at NLU.<ref name=fant/> Upon his retirement in 1979, he completed his single-most successful record, 23-6.<ref name=fant/>
Benny Jesse Hollis (born 1938) first met Fant in 1956 and played on his first team and ultimately became his assistant coach. Hollis recalled that Fant "made everyone he met feel like they [sic] were his best friend." Hollis was succeeded as head coach in 1981 by Mike Vining but continued as athletic director until 1993. Vining played for Fant in the middle 1960s: "We weren't just playing for pride. We were playing so Coach Fant wouldn't lose. He had that kind of impact on us. He was our friend and our coach. It's something that not many people in this profession can do."<ref name=mns/>
Benny Jesse Hollis (born 1938) first met Fant in 1956 and played on his first team and ultimately became his assistant coach. Hollis recalled that Fant "made everyone he met feel like they [sic] were his best friend." Hollis was succeeded as head coach in 1981 by Mike Vining but continued as athletic director until 1993. Vining played for Fant in the middle 1960s: "We weren't just playing for pride. We were playing so Coach Fant wouldn't lose. He had that kind of impact on us. He was our friend and our coach. It's something that not many people in this profession can do."<ref name=mns/>
==Death and legacy==
==Death and legacy==