Polk was born in Tell City, Indiana and began to play basketball in the 4th grade. After high school, Polk attended the University of Evansville from 1936 to 1939. He worked part-time at several jobs, including sweeping out the University President's office, running a movie projector, bank teller and working in a tomato canning factory. to help pay his college expenses. He was a guard on the basketball team under long-time Purple Aces' coach Bill Slyker from 1935-36 to 1938–39. In Polk's sophomore season, Evansille finished 11–7. This would mark the best season for the Purple Aces during Polk's college playing career.
High school coaching
Polk began his career in coaching by accepting a teaching and coaching job at his alma mater Tell City High School, Tell City, Indiana. Polk had graduated only 8 years earlier after leading the Marksmen to their fifth IHSAA Sectional title. Polk assisted Ivan Hollen, who also began that season, replacing future Purdue Boilermakers' Head Coach Ray Eddy.
College coaching
After a four-year tenure, Polk joined the U.S. Navy, he was assigned as a physical education instructor at Georgia Tech in the Navy's V-12 Program, he also assisted Georgia Tech head coach Dwayne Keith during the 1943–44 and 1944-45 seasons. After the war, Georgia Tech hired him as their assistant basketball coach. In 1943, he enlisted in the US Navy and was assigned as a physical education instructor at Georgia Institute of Technology, he spent the 1943–44 and 1944-45 seasons as a Georgia Tech assistant to Dwayne Keith in addition to his US Navy duties, after the war ended he was hired in the same capacity by Georgia Tech. In February 1947, Vanderbilt was pummeled by the Kentucky Wildcats in the SEC Tournament 98-29, the Commodores Athletic Director Red Sanders decided to upgrade the basketball program by hiring a full-time coach and offering scholarships. His search led him to Bob Polk (another candidate who was interviewed for the job was the future legend, John Wooden, who had led his Indiana State Sycamores to a conference title and an invitation from the NAIA.
Vanderbilt
Polk coached the Vanderbilt Commodores from 1947 to 1961. There, he won the 1951–52 SEC Tournament. Polk's Vanderbilt teams recorded one losing season in 13 seasons and finished 2nd in the SEC on four occasions. His 1954-55, 1955–56 and 1956–57 squads all finished the season in the Top 20 Associated Press poll. In his 13 seasons as Vanderbilt coach, Polk mined the rich Southwestern Indiana talent fields to build a consistent winner; players such as SEC First Team members Dave Kardokus and SEC Second team members Billy Joe Adcock, Al Weiss, Bob Dudley Smith and Dave Kardokus. Heart problems forced Polk to resign after the 1960-61 season. When he left, Polk was the leader in wins for the Commodores and had won the 1951 SEC Tourney. Six of his players were drafted by NBA teams;
Bill Depp – 1961 3rd round Boston
Jim Henry – 1959 6th round Minneapolis
Al Rochelle – 1957 5th round St. Louis
Dan Finch – 1954 Minneapolis
George Kelley – 1951 Indianapolis
Billy Joe Adcock – 1950 Fort Wayne
Trinity
Polk recovered quickly from his heart attack and accepted the head coaching and athletic director position at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. Polk quickly turned the Tigers into a power, leading them from the depths of the Southland Conference to the title in four seasons; he was named the Southland Conference Coach-of-the-Year in 1967 following a record of 16-6. His 1967-68 team was even better, the Tigers racked up a record of 23-7 and advanced to the NCAA College Division Tournament, where the Tigers finished 3rd overall. He was also the NCAA National Coach-of-the-Year for the College Division in 1968. In his four years at Trinity, Polk compiled a 70-28 record, a Southland title and a National 3rd-place finish. He was chiefly responsible for the Tigers moving to NCAA Division I classification, however, today they are a NCAA Div III school.
Saint Louis
Following his successful tenure at Trinity, Polk accepted the head coaching job at Saint Louis University; he was the 16th head coach in Billikens history and quickly turned around the program. In his 2nd season, he led them to a share of the Missouri Valley Conference championship and was named the Conference's Coach of the Year. While at St Louis, he sent two players to the NBA; Harry “Tree” Rogers and Robin Jones.
Rice
In a return to bigger conference, he accepted the head coaching position at Rice after five seasons at Saint Louis. However, he was unable to duplicate the earlier success he enjoyed at Vanderbilt. Polk served as the President of the National Association of Basketball Coaches during the 197475 season.
UAB
In April 1977, Polk resigned from Rice and accepted a position as the assistant athletic director at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He retired from that position in 1977. He hired Gene Bartow to build the men's basketball program.
