Frank Ramsey

Frank Vernon Ramsey, Jr.


Born:
July 13, 1931
Corydon, KY

Died:
July 8, 2018
Evansville, IN


Career
1947-48 Madisonville High School - Kentucky (High School)
1948-49 Madisonville High School - Kentucky (High School)
1950-51 University of Kentucky (College)
1951-52 University of Kentucky (College)
1953-54 University of Kentucky (College)
1954-55 Boston Celtics (NBA)
1956-57 Boston Celtics (NBA)
1957-58 Boston Celtics (NBA)
1958-59 Boston Celtics (NBA)
1959-60 Boston Celtics (NBA)
1960-61 Boston Celtics (NBA)
1961-62 Boston Celtics (NBA)
1962-63 Boston Celtics (NBA)
1963-64 Boston Celtics (NBA)

NATIONAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME, 1982

Ramsey would play baseball and basketball at the University of Kentucky. In 1952, the UK basketball program was suspended for a year due to a point-shaving scheme perpetrated by Wildcat players prior to Ramsey arriving there. Ramsey graduated in 1953 and was a first round draft pick by the Boston Celtics in the 1953 NBA draft, but Ramsey returned to UK for one more season, with the Wildcats finishing 25-0. However, Kentucky has to pass on the NCAA tournament due to a rule stating graduate students (like Ramsey and a few teammates who had also returned after the year off) were not permitted to compete. Ramsey would join the Celtics that fall and averaged 11.2 points in his rookie season. He was drafted into the U.S. Army, and missed the 1955-56 season but returned to the Celtics in January of 1957. All told, he would play nine seasons with the Celtics, with seven of those seasons as the NBA champions. He was a very versatile player, and was the first true "sixth man" in NBA history, coming off the bench and making an impact in limited playing time. He averaged 13.4 PPG in his career while playing in under 25 minutes per game. His number would be retired by the Celtics, and in 1982, Ramsey was elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

After retiring in 1964, Ramsey went to work at the bank his grandfather founder, and he was president of that bank in Dixon, Kentucky, until retiring in his 80's. In 2018, he suffered an aneurysm and died shortly thereafter of cardiac arrest.

Frank and his wife, Jean, had three children.

Source:
Obituary, Washington Post, July 10, 2018
Obituary, kentucky.com, July 8, 2018

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/ramsefr01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=ramsefr01

Bob Pettit

Robert Lee Pettit, Jr.


Born:
December 12, 1932
Baton Rouge, LA

 :




Career
1948-49 Baton Rouge High School - Louisiana (High School)
1949-50 Baton Rouge High School - Louisiana (High School)
1950-51 Louisiana State University (College) Freshmen
1951-52 Louisiana State University (College)
1952-53 Louisiana State University (College)
1953-54 Louisiana State University (College)
1954-55 Milwaukee Hawks (NBA)
1955-56 St. Louis Hawks (NBA)
1956-57 St. Louis Hawks (NBA)
1957-58 St. Louis Hawks (NBA)
1958-59 St. Louis Hawks (NBA)
1959-60 St. Louis Hawks (NBA)
1960-61 St. Louis Hawks (NBA)
1961-62 St. Louis Hawks (NBA)
1962-63 St. Louis Hawks (NBA)
1963-64 St. Louis Hawks (NBA)
1964-65 St. Louis Hawks (NBA)

NATIONAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME, 1971

With a slim 6'9 frame, Bob Pettit went from LSU star to an 11-year career that saw him as one of the most effective scoring threats the NBA has ever seen.

Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to Robert and Mary Pettit, young Bob didn't take to the sport right away, failing to make the high school team at first. Before his junior year, his dad, formerly the Sheriff of the East Baton Rouge Parish, pushed him to keep working at it. His work ethic, coupled with a growth spurt of five inches, got him on the school team in his junior year and he was named all-City. In his senior year, he lead the school to their first state championship.

Pettit received many scholarship offers, but chose to stay in state and go to LSU. A starter for all three years of varsity basketball, Pettit was twice named All-American as he average just under 28 points per game.  As a senior, he was the second play in major college history to average over 30 points in a season.

Pettit was selected second overall in the 1954 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Hawks. He moved from center to forward, and the hapless Hawks would see their fortunes improve as Pettit would win Rookie of the Year honors. The team moved to St. Louis the following season, and the team kept improving and in 1957 would win their first NBA championship. Pettit was in his prime, finishing regularly near the top of the league in scoring and rebounding and being a thorn in the side of the men he defended against.

Pettit would play 11 seasons with the Hawks, retiring in 1965. He had been named to the All-Star team every season he played, being selected as the All-Star Game MVP four times as well as being named the league's MVP twice. He lead the league in scoring twice, and at his retirement held the career points record with 20,880 (at the time I write this, he is in 43rd place in career points now, but his average of 26.4 points per game for his career is good for 8th place all-time).

After retiring from basketball, Pettit went to work in banking and later as a financial advisor as a co-founder of Equitas Capitol Investors. He was elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1971 and was one of the NBA's 50 greatest players selected for the NBA's 50 Anniversary celebration.

Pettit married Carol Crowell in 1965 (d. 2010) and they had three children.

Source:


Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/pettibo01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=pettibo01

George Yardley

George Harry Yardley III


Born:
November 3, 1928
Hollywood, CA

Died:
August 13. 2004
Newport Beach, CA


Career
1945-46 Newport Harbor High School - Newport Beach, CA (High School)
1947-48 Stanford University (College)
1948-49 Stanford University (College)
1949-50 Stanford University (College)
1950-51 Stewart Chevrolet - San Francisco (Independent)
1951-52 Los Alamitos Naval Base (Military) 
1953-54 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1954-55 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1955-56 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1956-57 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1957-58 Detroit Pistons (NBA)
1958-59 Detroit Pistons (NBA)
1958-59 Syracuse Nationals (NBA)
1959-60 Syracuse Nationals (NBA)
1961-62 Los Angeles Jets (ABL)

NATIONAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME, 1996

Yardley graduated from Stanford in 1950 and was selected by Fort Wayne in the first round of the 1950 NBA Draft. Rather than sign with the Pistons, he wanted to maintain his amateur status in order to play in the 1952 Olympics. He played basketball with the Stewart Chevrolet out of San Francisco who won the 1951 AAU Championship. Yardley entered the U.S. Navy shortly thereafter and played for the Los Alamitos Base team. However, he broke his hand while playing there and was unable to play for the United States in the Helsinki Olympic games.

Out of the navy in 1953, Yardley finally joined the Pistons and five years later when the Pistons moved to Detroit, Yardley became the first NBA player to score 2000 points in a single season.  In the following 1958-59 season, Yardley was traded to the Syracuse Nationals where he played the next season and a half. A six-time all-star, Yardley retired following the 1959-60 season at the age of 31.

In his seven-year career, he finished in the top 16 in scoring in six seasons. He returned to California but was coaxed out of retirement in 1961 by Bill Sharman who was a player and head coach for the New York Jets in the new American Basketball League. When the team failed, he quit playing for good and started up his own engineering company, the George Yardley Company in Santa Ana, California. Yardley was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1996. He died in 2004 from complications of ALS.

George and his wife, Diana, had two daughters and one son.


Source:
NY Times, August 16, 2004

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/y/yardlge01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=yardlge01

Clyde Lovellette

Clyde Edward Lovellette


Born:
September 7, 1929
Petersburg, IN

Died:
March 9, 2016
North Manchester, IN



Career
1946-47 Garfield High School - Terre Haute, IN (High School)
1947-48 Garfield High School - Terre Haute, IN (High School)
1948-49 University of Kansas (College) Freshmen
1949-50 University of Kansas (College)
1950-51 University of Kansas (College)
1951-52 University of Kansas (College)
1952 United States National Team (Olympics)
1953-54 Minneapolis Lakers (NBA)
1954-55 Minneapolis Lakers (NBA)
1955-56 Minneapolis Lakers (NBA)
1956-57 Minneapolis Lakers (NBA)
1957-58 Cincinnati Royals (NBA)
1958-59 St. Louis Hawks (NBA)
1959-60 St. Louis Hawks (NBA)
1960-61 St. Louis Hawks (NBA)
1961-62 St. Louis Hawks (NBA)
1962-63 Boston Celtics (NBA)
1963-64 Boston Celtics (NBA)

NATIONAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME, 1988

Standing at 6-foot-9 and weighing in at 245 pounds, came out of Indiana to star on the courts at the University of Kansas. Leading Kansas to an NCAA title in 1952, Lovellette set the record for most points in a NCAA tourney (141) and most points in a single game (44).  He had lead the country in scoring that year with 28.4 points per game, becoming the first (and as of this writing, the only) collegiate player to lead the nation in scoring AND win the NCAA tournament in the same year.

Lovellette was drafted by the Minneapolis Lakers in the first round of the 1952 draft, but he wanted to play in the Olympics in Helsinki. The U.S. team rolled to the gold medal, and Clyde joined the Lakers a year later. Somewhat rusty, Lovellette played n every Laker game in that rookie year of 1953-54, but only averaged 8.2 points. After that season, though, he was an unstoppable force. With a hook shot with a soft touch, he would average over 20 points a game the next three seasons as well as pulling in over 12 rebounds a game. Being named to two All-Star games, Lovellette was traded after the 1956-57 season to Rochester. The Royals moved to Cincinnati prior to the start of the 1957-58 season, and in his only season in Cincy, he scored a career-high 23.4 points per game in an injury-shortend season.

In September of 1958, Lovellette was sent to the St. Louis Hawks to complete a deal a month earlier where the the Hawks gave the signing rights of five young players to Cincinnati. (Of those five, only two, Wayne Embry and Jim Palmer, would play in an NBA game.)  Lovellette played four seasons in St. Louis, averaging almost 20 points over that stretch and being named to the All-Star team two more times.

After the 1961-62 season, the 32-year old Lovellette was sold to the Boston Celtics. He would pick up his second and third rings in his two seasons there before retiring after the 1963-64 season. He was a tough and very physical player, not afraid to push, shove or elbow his opponents as he battled for position. He frustrated many an opposing player with his style of play, earning respect as well as controversy along the way.

After his playing days, he worked as a cattle rancher, country club manager, sheriff and teacher but was most proud of his days as a counselor for troubled youths in his home town of Terre Haute. He would be elected to both the Naismith Hall of Fame and the College Basketball Hall of Fame. He died in 2016 at 86 years of age.

Lovellette was married to Sally Wheeler and the had three daughters. After divorcing Sally, he remarried to Judy Wray in 1970. 

Source:
Washington Post, March 11, 2016

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/lovelcl01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=lovelcl01

Bob Houbregs

Robert John Houbregs


Born:
March 12, 1932
Vancouver, BC, Canada

Died:
May 28, 2014
Olympia, WA


Career
1948-49 Queen Anne High School - Seattle (High School)
1950-51 University of Washington (College)
1951-52 University of Washington (College)
1952-53 University of Washington (College)
1953-54 Milwaukee Hawks (NBA)
1953-54 Baltimore Bullets (NBA)
1954-55 Baltimore Bullets (NBA)
1954-55 Boston Celtics (NBA)
1954-55 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1955-56 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1956-57 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1957-58 Detroit Pistons (NBA)

NATIONAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME, 1987


The 6'7 center and forward with a sweet hook shot was an All-American was Washington, scoring 1774 points in three years there, scoring 49 of them in one game against Idaho in his senior year. He lead the Huskies to the NCAA Final Four in 1953, and afterwards was drafted in the first round (third overall) by the Milwaukee Hawks in the 1953 NBA Draft. He was traded to the Baltimore Bullets barely a month into the 1953-54. When the Bullets dissolved in the early part of the next season, Houbregs was selected by the Celtics in the Bullets Dispersal draft.  He would go on to play 5 years in the NBA with four different franchises.

Done with playing basketball. he did not leave the sport. He would serve as the Seattle SuperSonics' general manager during their early years from 1969 to 1973. Houbregs would be elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987.

Source:
http://www.hoophall.com

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/houbrbo01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=houbrbo01

Cliff Wells

W.R. Clifford "Cliff" Wells


Born:
March 17, 1896
Indianapolis, IN

Died:
August 15, 1977
Garland, TX


Career
1917-18 Bloomington High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1918-19 Bloomington High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1919-20 Bloomington High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1920-21 Bloomington High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1921-22 Columbus High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1922-23 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1923-24 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1924-25 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1925-26 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1926-27 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1927-28 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1928-29 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1929-30 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1930-31 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1931-32 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1932-33 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1933-34 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1934-35 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1935-36 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1936-37 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1937-38 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1938-39 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1939-40 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1940-41 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1941-42 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1942-43 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1943-44 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1944-45 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach 
1945-46 Tulane University (College) Head coach
1946-47 Tulane University (College) Head coach
1947-48 Tulane University (College) Head coach 
1948-49 New Orleans Sports (SPBL) Head coach / player
1948-49 Tulane University (College) Head coach
1949-50 Tulane University (College) Head coach
1950-51 Tulane University (College) Head coach
1951-52 Tulane University (College) Head coach
1952-53 Tulane University (College) Head coach
1953-54 Tulane University (College) Head coach
1954-55 Tulane University (College) Head coach
1955-56 Tulane University (College) Head coach
1956-57 Tulane University (College) Head coach
1957-58 Tulane University (College) Head coach
1958-59 Tulane University (College) Head coach
1959-60 Tulane University (College) Head coach
1960-61 Tulane University (College) Head coach
1961-62 Tulane University (College) Head coach
1962-63 Tulane University (College) Head coach

NATIONAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME, 1972


Cliff Wells was a legendary coach from Indiana. He coached high school basketball many years in Indiana (winning two state titles.) He would coach at Tulane for 18 years before retiring. In his retirement from coaching, he worked at the Basketball Hall of Fame as a director. He would be inducted into the Hall of Fame himself in 1972.
Wells, while coaching the New Orleans Sports of the Southern League, appeared in one game on January 12, 1949, at the age of 52. Wells is the only player in the Southern Basketball League to be in the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Wells died of a heart attack in 1977.

Source:
http://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/cliff-wells/

Stats:

Jack Ramsay

John Travilla Ramsay Jr.


Born:
February 21, 1925
Philadelphia, PA

Died:
April 28, 2014
Naples, FL






Career
1940-41 Upper Darby High School - Philadelphia (High School)
1941-42 Upper Darby High School - Philadelphia (High School)
1942-43 St. Joseph’s University - Philadelphia (College)
1944-45 Wilmington Bombers (ABL)
1945-46 San Diego Dons (AAU)
1946-47 St. Joseph’s University - Philadelphia (College)
1947-48 St. Joseph’s University - Philadelphia (College)
1948-49 St. Joseph’s University - Philadelphia (College)
1949-50 Harrisburg Senators (EPBL)
1950-51 Harrisburg Caps (EPBL)
1951-52 Sunbury Mercuries (EPBL)
1952-53 Sunbury Mercuries (EPBL)
St. James High School - Chester, PA (High School) Head coach
1953-54 Sunbury Mercuries (EPBL)
1953-54 Mount Pleasant High School - Wilmington, DE (High School) Head coach
1954-55 Sunbury Mercuries (EBL)
1955-56 St. Joseph’s University - Philadelphia (College) Head coach
1956-57 St. Joseph’s University - Philadelphia (College) Head coach
1957-58 St. Joseph’s University - Philadelphia (College) Head coach
1958-59 St. Joseph’s University - Philadelphia (College) Head coach
1959-60 St. Joseph’s University - Philadelphia (College) Head coach
1960-61 St. Joseph’s University - Philadelphia (College) Head coach
1961-62 St. Joseph’s University - Philadelphia (College) Head coach
1962-63 St. Joseph’s University - Philadelphia (College) Head coach
1963-64 St. Joseph’s University - Philadelphia (College) Head coach
1964-65 St. Joseph’s University - Philadelphia (College) Head coach
1965-66 St. Joseph’s University - Philadelphia (College) Head coach
1968-69 Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) Head coach
1969-70 Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) Head coach
1970-71 Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) Head coach
1971-72 Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) Head coach
1972-73 Buffalo Braves (NBA) Head coach
1973-74 Buffalo Braves (NBA) Head coach
1974-75 Buffalo Braves (NBA) Head coach
1975-76 Buffalo Braves (NBA) Head coach
1976-77 Portland Trailblazers (NBA) Head coach
1977-78 Portland Trailblazers (NBA) Head coach
1978-79 Portland Trailblazers (NBA) Head coach
1979-80 Portland Trailblazers (NBA) Head coach
1980-81 Portland Trailblazers (NBA) Head coach
1981-82 Portland Trailblazers (NBA) Head coach
1982-83 Portland Trailblazers (NBA) Head coach
1983-84 Portland Trailblazers (NBA) Head coach
1984-85 Portland Trailblazers (NBA) Head coach
1985-86 Portland Trailblazers (NBA) Head coach
1986-87 Indiana Pacers (NBA) Head coach
1987-88 Indiana Pacers (NBA) Head coach
1988-89 Indiana Pacers (NBA) Head coach

NATIONAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME, 1992

Born to John and Anne Ramsay, Jack excelled in baseball, basketball and soccer in high school. He would go to college at St. Joseph's, but entered the U.S. Army in 1943. After serving his country during World War 2 (and a little bit after the war), Ramsay was discharged and he returned to St. Joseph's, still pursing basketball and baseball. After graduating, he played basketball professionally for six years in the Eastern League while also teaching and coaching at the high school level. He returned to St. Joseph's as the head basketball coach in 1955, staying there 11 years. He left the St. Joseph's bench in 1966 with a 234-72 record after being diagnosed with an edema on his retina. He became the general manager of the Philadelphia 76ers, who would win the NBA title in his first year on the job. A couple years later, he became the head coach.

After four seasons with the 76ers, he became the coach of the Buffalo Braves, and also stayed their four years. He had turned the Braves from a woeful club into a playoff team, but the improved success did not improve the financial situation for the Buffalo club enough, and he left to go the Portland Trailblazers in 1976. In 1978, the Braves would move to San Diego to become the Clippers. Ramsay's first season is Portland was a great one as the Blazers won the NBA title. He would stay with Portland through the 1986-87 season, but never came close to a second title. In 1986, he took over the reigns of the Indiana Pacers. He coached the Pacers for two seasons and resigned seven games in the 1988-89 season. Done with coaching, he went into broadcasting as was a very popular color commentator for the 76ers and the Miami Heat. He was elected to the Naismith Hall of Fame in 1992.

Ramsay died of cancer in 2015 at 89 years of age.

Source:
Hoop Hall
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/10853320/jack-ramsay-rise-hall-fame
Obituary, Miami Herald

Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/Fiddle-Morley/

Red Auerbach

Arnold Jacob "Red" Auerbach


Born:
September 20, 1917
Brooklyn, NY

Died:
October 28, 2006
Washington, DC


Career
1935-36 Eastern High School - Brooklyn (High School)
1937-38 George Washington University (College)
1938-39 George Washington University (College)
1939-40 George Washington University (College)
1942-43 Harrisburg Senators (ABL)
1946-47 Washington Capitols (BAA) Head coach
1947-48 Washington Capitols (BAA) Head coach

1948-49 Washington Capitols (BAA) Head coach
1949-50 Duke University (College) Assistant coach
1949-50 Tri-Cities Blackhawks (NBA) Head coach
1950-51 Boston Celtics (NBA) Head coach
1951-52 Boston Celtics (NBA) Head coach
1952-53 Boston Celtics (NBA) Head coach
1953-54 Boston Celtics (NBA) Head coach
1954-55 Boston Celtics (NBA) Head coach
1955-56 Boston Celtics (NBA) Head coach
1956-57 Boston Celtics (NBA) Head coach
1957-58 Boston Celtics (NBA) Head coach
1958-59 Boston Celtics (NBA) Head coach
1959-60 Boston Celtics (NBA) Head coach
1960-61 Boston Celtics (NBA) Head coach
1961-62 Boston Celtics (NBA) Head coach
1962-63 Boston Celtics (NBA) Head coach
1963-64 Boston Celtics (NBA) Head coach
1964-65 Boston Celtics (NBA) Head coach
1965-66 Boston Celtics (NBA) Head coach

NATIONAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME, 1969

One of biggest names in the history of the game of basketball, Red Auerbach was a very good player in high school and at George Washington University. He played one game professionally, playing a few minutes for the Harrisburg Senators in February of 1943 while also serving in the military. Due to World War 2, he did return to the pro game as a player. However, he would go on to become one of the greatest coaches in NBA history, helping to break the league's color barrier and winning nine titles with the Celtics over a ten-year span. He quit coaching after the 65-66 season, but moved into the Celtics' front office where he continued to help the Celtics to more glory. He remained on as general manager through 1984 when he became the team president and vice chairman. His health slowly declined in his 80's, and he died of a heart attack in 2006.

I could write all day about Auerbach, but I will leave that to more talented a biographer.

Source:


Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/red-auerbach/

Eddie Gottlieb

Edward Gottlieb
born Isadore Gottlieb


Born:
September 5, 1898
Kiev, Russia

Died:
December 7, 1979
Philadelphia, PA


Career
1917-18 Philadelphia YMHA (ALP)
1918-19 Philadelphia SPHA's (ALP)
1919-20 Philadelphia SPHA's (ALP)
1920-21 Philadelphia SPHA's (ALP)
1921-22 Philadelphia SPHA's (Independent)
1922-23 SPHA's (PBL)
1923-24 SPHA's (PBL)
1924-25 Philadelphia SPHA's (Independent)
1925-26 Philadelphia SPHA's (EBL) Head coach
1926-27 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL) Head coach
1927-28 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL) Head coach
1928-29 Philadelphia SPHA's (Independent)
1929-30 Philadelphia SPHA's (EBL) Head coach
1930-31 Philadelphia SPHA's (EBL) Head coach
1931-32 Philadelphia SPHA's (EBL) Head coach
1932-33 Philadelphia SPHA's (EBL) Head coach
1933-34 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL) Head coach
1934-35 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL) Head coach
1935-36 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL) Head coach
1936-37 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL) Head coach
1937-38 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL) Head coach
1938-39 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL) Head coach
1939-40 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL) Head coach
1940-41 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL) Head coach
1941-42 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL) Head coach / player
1942-43 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL) Head coach
1943-44 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL) Head coach
1944-45 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL) Head coach
1945-46 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL) Head coach
1946-47 Philadelphia Warriors (BAA) Head coach
1947-48 Philadelphia Warriors (BAA) Head coach
1948-49 Philadelphia Warriors (BAA) Head coach
1949-50 Philadelphia Warriors (BAA) Head coach
1950-51 Philadelphia Warriors (BAA) Head coach
1951-52 Philadelphia Warriors (BAA) Head coach
1952-53 Philadelphia Warriors (BAA) Head coach
1953-54 Philadelphia Warriors (BAA) Head coach
1954-55 Philadelphia Warriors (BAA) Head coach
1955-56 Philadelphia Warriors (BAA) Head coach

NATIONAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME, 1970

Born in Kiev, Russia (in what is now the Ukraine), Gottlieb's family came to the United States around the turn of the century. Eddie took to sports as a youth, and kept with it through his adult life. He played, coached and owned teams throughout his life. Starting as a player for the Young Men's Hebrew Association in Philadelphia, he formed with Philadelphia SPHA's during World War I, and remained a coach and manager for many years. In the 1940's, as basketball was increasing in popularity, he was a key part of the forming of the BAA, which would become the NBA. He was the owner of the Philadelphia Warriors, and would sell the SPHA's to Red Klotz in 1950 as the NBA began to grow as an organization into a sustainable league. Gottlieb sold the team and the franchise moved to San Francisco, where they took the Golden State moniker. Gottlieb stayed on as an advisor to the NBA, and died in 1979. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1972.

Source:


Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/eddie-gottlieb/

Ben Carnevale

Bernard Louis Carnevale


Born:
October 30, 1915
Raritan, NJ

Died:
March 25, 2008
Williamsburg, VA


Career
1932-33 Somerville High School - New Jersey (High School)
1933-34 Somerville High School - New Jersey (High School)
1935-36 NYU (College)
1936-37 NYU (College)
1937-38 NYU (College)
1938-39 Jersey Reds (ABL)
Cranford High School - New Jersey (High School) Head coach
1944-45 University of North Carolina (College) Head coach
1945-46 University of North Carolina (College) Head coach
1946-47 Naval Academy (College) Head coach
1947-48 Naval Academy (College) Head coach
1948-49 Naval Academy (College) Head coach
1949-50 Naval Academy (College) Head coach
1950-51 Naval Academy (College) Head coach
1951-52 Naval Academy (College) Head coach
1952-53 Naval Academy (College) Head coach
1953-54 Naval Academy (College) Head coach
1954-55 Naval Academy (College) Head coach
1955-56 Naval Academy (College) Head coach
1956-57 Naval Academy (College) Head coach
1957-58 Naval Academy (College) Head coach
1958-59 Naval Academy (College) Head coach
1959-60 Naval Academy (College) Head coach
1960-61 Naval Academy (College) Head coach
1961-62 Naval Academy (College) Head coach
1962-63 Naval Academy (College) Head coach
1963-64 Naval Academy (College) Head coach
1964-65 Naval Academy (College) Head coach
1965-66 Naval Academy (College) Head coach

NATIONAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME, 1970

Born to Alexander and Amelia Carnevale, Carnevale graduated from NYU and played a little pro basketball for the Jersey Reds. After coaching a Cranford HS, he joined the U.S. Navy to serve during World War 2. His ship was torpedoed and he remained in a life raft for five days befor ebeing rescued, and was awarded a Purple Heart. Back in the U.S., he served for two years as head coach at North Carolina before accepting the head coaching job at the Naval Academy. He remained at the job for 20 seasons before leaving coaching to become Athletic Director at NYU and later William and Mary. He was elected to the National Basketball Hall of Fame in 1970. As a coach, he lead UNC to the finals and only had one losing record while at Navy.


Ben married Agnes Curran in 1942 and they had four sons and a daughter. His son Mark is a professional golfer.

Source:
Basketball Hall of Fame
NY Times, April 4, 2008

Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/ben-carnevale/

Frank McGuire

Francis Joseph McGuire


Born:
November 8, 1913
Greenwich Village, NY

Died:
October 16, 1994
Columbia, SC


Career
1931-32 St. Francis Xavier High School - New York (High School)
1932-33 St. Francis Xavier High School - New York (High School)
1933-34 St. John's University (College)
1934-35 St. John's University (College)
1935-36 St. John's University (College)
1936-37 Brooklyn Visitations (ABL)
1936-37 St. Francis Xavier High School - New York (High School)
1937-38 Brooklyn Visitations (ABL)
1937-38 St. Francis Xavier High School - New York (High School)
1938-39 St. Francis Xavier High School - New York (High School)
1939-40 St. Francis Xavier High School - New York (High School)
1940-41 St. Francis Xavier High School - New York (High School)
1941-42 St. Francis Xavier High School - New York (High School)
1942-43 St. Francis Xavier High School - New York (High School)
1943-44 St. Francis Xavier High School - New York (High School)
1944-45 St. Francis Xavier High School - New York (High School)
1945-46 St. Francis Xavier High School - New York (High School)
1946-47 St. Francis Xavier High School - New York (High School)
1947-48 St. John's University (College) Head coach
1948-49 St. John's University (College) Head coach
1949-50 St. John's University (College) Head coach
1950-51 St. John's University (College) Head coach
1951-52 St. John's University (College) Head coach
1952-53 University of North Carolina (College) Head coach
1953-54 University of North Carolina (College) Head coach
1954-55 University of North Carolina (College) Head coach
1955-56 University of North Carolina (College) Head coach
1956-57 University of North Carolina (College) Head coach
1957-58 University of North Carolina (College) Head coach
1958-59 University of North Carolina (College) Head coach
1959-60 University of North Carolina (College) Head coach
1960-61 University of North Carolina (College) Head coach
1961-62 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA) Head coach
1964-65 University of South Carolina (College) Head coach
1965-66 University of South Carolina (College) Head coach
1966-67 University of South Carolina (College) Head coach
1967-68 University of South Carolina (College) Head coach
1968-69 University of South Carolina (College) Head coach
1969-70 University of South Carolina (College) Head coach
1970-71 University of South Carolina (College) Head coach
1971-72 University of South Carolina (College) Head coach
1972-73 University of South Carolina (College) Head coach
1973-74 University of South Carolina (College) Head coach
1974-75 University of South Carolina (College) Head coach
1975-76 University of South Carolina (College) Head coach
1976-77 University of South Carolina (College) Head coach
1977-78 University of South Carolina (College) Head coach
1978-79 University of South Carolina (College) Head coach
1979-80 University of South Carolina (College) Head coach 

NATIONAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME, 1977

Frank was a star basketball player at St John's, and after graduating in 1936, he returned to his high school, St. Francis Xavier, as a teacher and basketball coach. He would also play for a couple season with the Brooklyn Visitations. After eleven seasons at the high school helm, he was hired to be the head basketball coach back at St. John's University as well as baseball coach. While there, he lead ST. John's to both the Final Four and the College World Series. In 1952, he was hired by North Carolina, leading them to a perfect 32-0 record and the NCAA title in 1957. In this spring of 1961, in the midst of a point shaving scandal at UNC, McGuire was forced to resign his position.

McGuire moved to the pros, being named the head coach of the Philadelphia Warriors in 1961. Wilt Chamberlain was a member of the Warriors, and that season would score an NBA record 100 points in a single game as well as average 50.4 point per game. At the end of the season, it was announced that the Warriors were going to move across the country to San Francisco. McGuire, not wanting to move, resigned. A couple years later, he took the head coaching job at South Carolina, staying there sixteen seasons until retiring in 1980. His career record as a college coach is 549-237. He was elected to the Naismith Hall of Fame in 1977.

In 1992, McGuire suffered a series of strokes, and over the next couple years his health slowly faded until dying in 1994 at the age of 80.

Frank had two daughters and a son.

Source:
Chicago Tribune, March 18, 1990
Obituary, N.Y. Times, October 12, 1994

Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/frank-mcguire/

Harry Litwack

Harold "Chief" Litwack


Born:
September 20, 1907
Lviv (Lemberg), Galicia *

Died:
August 7, 1999
Huntingdon Valley, PA


Career
1925-26 Southern High School - Philadelphia (High School)
1926-27 Temple University (College)
1926-27 Philadelphia Hakoahs (EBL)
1927-28 Temple University (College)
1928-29 Temple University (College)
1929-30 Philadelphia SPHA's (EBL)
1930-31 Philadelphia SPHA's (EBL)
1930-31 Simon Graz High School - Philadelphia (High School) Head coach
1931-32 Philadelphia SPHA's (EBL)
1931-32 Temple University (College) Freshmen coach
1932-33 Philadelphia SPHA's (EBL)
1932-33 Temple University (College) Freshmen coach
1933-34 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL)
1933-34 Temple University (College) Freshmen coach
1934-35 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL)
1934-35 Temple University (College) Freshmen coach
1935-36 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL)
1935-36 Atlantic City (EBL)
1935-36 Temple University (College) Freshmen coach
1936-37 Temple University (College) Freshmen coach
1937-38 Temple University (College) Freshmen coach
1938-39 Temple University (College) Freshmen coach
1939-40 Temple University (College) Freshmen coach
1940-41 Temple University (College) Freshmen coach
1941-42 Temple University (College) Freshmen coach
1942-43 Temple University (College) Freshmen coach
1943-44 Temple University (College) Freshmen coach
1944-45 Temple University (College) Freshmen coach
1945-46 Temple University (College) Freshmen coach
1946-47 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL) Head coach
1947-48 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL) Head coach
1948-49 Temple University (College) Freshmen coach
1948-49 Philadelphia Warriors (BAA) Assistant coach
1949-50 Temple University (College) Freshmen coach
1949-50 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA) Assistant coach
1950-51 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA) Assistant coach
1950-51 Temple University (College) Freshmen coach
1951-52 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA) Assistant coach 
1952-53 Temple University (College) Head coach
1953-54 Temple University (College) Head coach
1954-55 Temple University (College) Head coach
1955-56 Temple University (College) Head coach
1956-57 Temple University (College) Head coach
1957-58 Temple University (College) Head coach
1958-59 Temple University (College) Head coach
1959-60 Temple University (College) Head coach
1960-61 Temple University (College) Head coach
1961-62 Temple University (College) Head coach
1962-63 Temple University (College) Head coach
1963-64 Temple University (College) Head coach
1964-65 Temple University (College) Head coach
1965-66 Temple University (College) Head coach
1966-67 Temple University (College) Head coach
1967-68 Temple University (College) Head coach
1968-69 Temple University (College) Head coach
1969-70 Temple University (College) Head coach
1970-71 Temple University (College) Head coach
1971-72 Temple University (College) Head coach
1972-73 Temple University (College) Head coach

NATIONAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME, 1976

* (in 1907, Galicia was a kingdom in Eastern Europe that had been part of Austria-Hungary after being part of Poland. After World War 2, it became part of the Soviet Union, and now is in the Ukraine. Litwack and family considered themselves Polish)

Litwack was born in Eastern Europe but his family moved to the USA in 1912 and settled in Philadelphia. Yiddish was the only language spoken by the family, so Litwack had to learn not only assimilation into his new country but also a new language. On the basketball court is where he would excel. He played at Southern HS in Philly before playing at Temple. His leadership skills showed at Temple, and aside from signing with the Philadelphia SPHA's to play basketball for some years, he also would become a coach first at the high school level, and then back at Temple. He coached the freshmen team through World War 2 and was eventually hired to be the head coach for the SPHA's. He would work as an assistant for the BAA's Philadelphia Warriors, while still coaching at Temple. In 1952, Litwack was hired to be the head coach for Temple's men squad. In 21 seasons at the helm, he had a 373-193 record with 13 post-season appearances, an NIT championship and a Final Four appearance. He retired in 1973, and was elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1976. He also ran many youth basketball camps.

Source:
NY Times Obituary
Basketball Hall of Fame

Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/harry-litwack/

Stretch Murphy

Charles Carroll "Stretch" Murphy


Born:
April 10, 1907
Marion, IN

Died:
August 17, 1992
Tampa, FL


Career
1923-24 Marion High School - Indiana (High School)
1924-25 Marion High School - Indiana (High School)
1925-26 Marion High School - Indiana (High School)
1927-28 Purdue University (College)
1928-29 Purdue University (College)
1929-30 Purdue University (College)
1929-30 Chicago Bruins (ABL)
1929-30 Springfield Allen’s Yellowjackets (Independent)
1929-30 Chicago Majestics (Independent)
1929-30 Purdue All-Stars (Independent)
1929-30 Appleton Cords (Independent)
1930-31 Akron Firestones (Independent)
1931-32 Taylorville Doc’s Gang (Independent)
1932-33 Indianapolis Kautskys (NPBL)
1933-34 Indianapolis Kautskys (Independent)

NATIONAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME, 1960

From Marion, Indiana, "Stretch" was one of the game's first big men, at a time with most coaches stayed away from tall players due to their overall lack of athletic grace. the 6'7 Murphy changed that while at Purdue. He played with the Bruins of the ABL for one game, as well as other Midwestern teams over the early 1930's  He would go get his Master's Degree in Phys Ed at Columbia University. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1960.

He and his wife, Ruth, were married just short of 62 years.

Source:


Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/stretch-murphy/

Branch McCracken

Emmett "Branch" McCracken


Born:
June 9, 1908
Monrovia, IN

Died:
June 4, 1970
Indianapolis, IN


Career
1927-28 Indiana University (College)
1928-29 Indiana University (College)
1929-30 Indiana University (College)
1929-30 Oshkosh All-Stars (Independent)
1929-30 Fort Wayne Hoosiers (ABL)
1930-31 Ball State University - Indiana (College) Head coach
1930-31 Fort Wayne Hoosiers (ABL)
1930-31 Oshkosh All-Stars (Independent)
1931-32 Oshkosh All-Stars (Independent)
1931-32 Ball State University - Indiana (College) Head coach
1932-33 Kokomo Kelts (NPBL)
1932-33 Muncie Whys (NPBL)
1932-33 Ball State University - Indiana (College) Head coach
1933-34 Indianapolis Kautskys (Independent)
1933-34 Ball State University - Indiana (College) Head coach
1934-35 Ball State University - Indiana (College) Head coach
1935-36 Ball State University - Indiana (College) Head coach
1936-37 Ball State University - Indiana (College) Head coach
1937-38 Ball State University - Indiana (College) Head coach
1938-39 Indiana University (College) Head coach
1939-40 Indiana University (College) Head coach
1940-41 Indiana University (College) Head coach
1941-42 Indiana University (College) Head coach
1942-43 Indiana University (College) Head coach
1946-47 Indiana University (College) Head coach
1947-48 Indiana University (College) Head coach
1948-49 Indiana University (College) Head coach
1949-50 Indiana University (College) Head coach
1950-51 Indiana University (College) Head coach
1951-52 Indiana University (College) Head coach
1952-53 Indiana University (College) Head coach
1953-54 Indiana University (College) Head coach
1954-55 Indiana University (College) Head coach
1955-56 Indiana University (College) Head coach
1956-57 Indiana University (College) Head coach
1957-58 Indiana University (College) Head coach
1958-59 Indiana University (College) Head coach
1959-60 Indiana University (College) Head coach
1960-61 Indiana University (College) Head coach
1961-62 Indiana University (College) Head coach
1962-63 Indiana University (College) Head coach
1963-64 Indiana University (College) Head coach
1964-65 Indiana University (College) Head coach

NATIONAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME, 1960


An outstanding player at Indiana, Branch was named the head coach of the basketball team at Ball State in 1930. He played some pro ball at this time, but it was on the sidelines where he would make his name. He eventually moved to the coaching job at Indiana, and lead the the Hoosiers to two NCAA titles. He stayed there through 1965 and left with 364 wins in 23 seasons. (His time there was interrupted with military service in the U.S. Navy during World War 2. He was elected to the Naismith Hall of Fame in 1960, based on his playing time at IU.

Source:
Basketball Hall of Fame

Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/branch-mccracken/

Vic Hanson

Victor Arthur Hanson


Born:
July 30, 1903
Watertown, NY

Died:
April 10, 1982
Minoa, NY


Career
1921-22 Central High School - Syracuse (High School)
St. John's Prep - Syracuse (High School) now Manlius School
1923-24 Syracuse University (College) Freshmen
1924-25 Syracuse University (College)
1925-26 Syracuse University (College)
1926-27 Syracuse University (College)
1927-28 Cleveland Rosenblums (ABL)
1927-28 Syracuse All Americans (Independent)
1928-29 Syracuse All Americans (Independent)

NATIONAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME, 1960

The three-sport star (baseball, basketball and football) is the only player to be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame. After a steller collegiate career which included the 1926 national championship in basketbal, he signed with the Cleveland Rosenblums but quit mid-season and returned to Syracuse to play for the All-Americans. He also played pro baseball for the Syracuse Stars in 1928. He became an assistant football coach back at SU before becoming head coach for seven years.

He married Dorothy Burns in 1932

Minor League Baseball Stats:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=hanson001v--

Source:
Hoop Hall of Fame
Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame
Press and Sun-Bulletin (Binghamton, NY), April 13, 1982

Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/vic-hanson/

Joe Brennan

Joseph Raymond Brennan


Born:
November 15, 1900
Brooklyn, NY

Died:
May 10, 1989
New York, NY


Career
1915-16 St. Augustine High School - Brooklyn (High School)
1916-17 St. Augustine High School - Brooklyn (High School)
1917-18 St. Augustine High School - Brooklyn (High School)
1918-19 Brooklyn (Independent)
1919-20 Brooklyn Whirlwinds (Independent)
1920-21 Brooklyn Nonperials (Independent)
1920-21 Trenton Bengals (EBL)
1920-21 Albany Senators (NYSL)
1920-21 Wilkes Barre Barons (PSL)
1920-21 Plymouth Shawnees (PSL)
1921-22 Brooklyn Dodgers (MBL)
1921-22 Wilkes-Barre Brons (EBL)
1921-22 Springfield Gunners (IL)
1921-22 Holyoke Reds (IL)
1922-23 Brooklyn Dodgers (MBL)
1922-23 Philadelphia Jewels (EBL)
1922-23 Troy Trojans (NYSL)
1922-23 Amsterdam (NYSL)
1922-23 Albany Senators (NYSL)
1922-23 Springfield Gunners (IL)
1922-23 Ciollege Pt. Big-Five (Independent)
1923-24 Brooklyn Visitations (MBL)
1923-24 Albany Senators / Gloversville Wonder Workers (NYSL)
1924-25 Brooklyn Visitations (MBL)
1924-25 Kayoula - Phladelphia (PBL)
1924-25 Philadelphia Cathedral (PBL)
1925-26 Brooklyn Visitations (MBL)
1925-26 Philadelphia Cranes (EBL)
1925-26 Trenton Bengals (EBL)
1926-27 Brooklyn Visitations (NYN)
1926-27 Paterson Crescents (MBL)
1927-28 Hudson (MBL)
1927-28 Brooklyn Visitations (ABL)
1928-29 Brooklyn Visitations (ABL)
1929-30 Brooklyn Visitations (ABL)
1930-31 Brooklyn Visitations (ABL)
1930-31 Chester (TSL)
1930-31 Paterson Antlers (Independent)
1931-32 Union City Reds (MBL)
1932-33 Joe Brennan All-Stars (Independent)
1933-34 Pittston (PSL)
1934-35 Brooklyn Visitations (ABL)
1934-35 Pittston (PSL)
1936-37 Brooklyn Americans (Independent)
1937-38 Yonkers K of C (Independent)
1941-42 St. Francis College - New York (College) Head coach
1942-43 St. Francis College - New York (College) Head coach
1943-44 St. Francis College - New York (College) Head coach
1944-45 St. Francis College - New York (College) Head coach
1945-46 St. Francis College - New York (College) Head coach
1946-47 St. Francis College - New York (College) Head coach
1947-48 St. Francis College - New York (College) Head coach 

NATIONAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME, 1975

Brennan was one of the games greatest guards of his era, playing for three ABL championship teams and was also the leading scorer in the Metropolitan League in 1926-27. He played professionally for 19 seasons before becoming a coach at St Francis.

He was also a banker, worker at Emigrant Savings Bank throughout his playing career. His work sometimes prevented him from playing road games, but he stayed with Emigrant through 1961 when he became the president of Atlantic Savings and Loan in Brooklyn. He retired from banking in 1968.

Source:
Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame

Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/joe-brennan/

Joe Lapchick

Joseph Bohomiel Lapchick


Born:
April 12, 1900
Yonkers, NY

Died:
August 10, 1970
Monticello, NY


Career
1917-18 Yonkers Hollywood Inn (Independent)
1918-19 Yonkers Hollywood Inn (Independent)
1919-20 Yonkers Hollywood Inn (Independent)
1920-21 Schenectady Dorpians (NYSL)
1920-21 Holyoke Co. E. (IL)
1921-22 Schenectady Doprians (NYSL)
1921-22 Troy Trojans (NYSL)
1921-22 Brooklyn Visitation (MBL)
1921-22 Holyoke Reds (IL)
1921-22 Mt.Vernon Armory Big Five (Independent)
1922-23 Troy Trojans (NYSL)
1922-23 Brooklyn Visitations (MBL)
1922-23 Holyoke Reds (IL)
1923-24 Original Celtics (Independent)
1924-25 Original Celtics (Independent)
1925-26 Original Celtics (Independent)
1926-27 New York Celtics (NLN)
1926-27 Brooklyn Celtics (ABL)
1927-28 New York Celtics (ABL)
1928-29 Cleveland Rosenblums (ABL)
1929-30 Cleveland Rosenblums (ABL)
1930-31 Cleveland Rosenblums (ABL) Head coach / player
1930-31 Toledo Red Men (ABL)
1931-32 Original Celtics (Independent)
1932-33 Original Celtics (Independent)
1932-33 Yonkers (MBL)
1933-34 Original Celtics (Independent)
1933-34 Plymouth (PSL)
1934-35 Original Celtics (Independent)
1935-36 Original Celtics (Independent)
1936-37 Original Celtics (Independent)
1936-37 St. John's University (College) Head coach
1937-38 St. John's University (College) Head coach
1938-39 St. John's University (College) Head coach
1939-40 St. John's University (College) Head coach
1940-41 St. John's University (College) Head coach
1941-42 St. John's University (College) Head coach
1942-43 St. John's University (College) Head coach
1943-44 St. John's University (College) Head coach
1944-45 St. John's University (College) Head coach
1945-46 St. John's University (College) Head coach
1946-47 St. John's University (College) Head coach 
1947-48 New York Knicks (BAA) Head coach

1948-49 New York Knicks (BAA) Head coach
1949-50 New York Knicks (NBA) Head coach
1950-51 New York Knicks (NBA) Head coach
1951-52 New York Knicks (NBA) Head coach
1952-53 New York Knicks (NBA) Head coach
1953-54 New York Knicks (NBA) Head coach
1954-55 New York Knicks (NBA) Head coach
1955-56 New York Knicks (NBA) Head coach
1956-57 St. John's University (College) Head coach
1957-58 St. John's University (College) Head coach
1958-59 St. John's University (College) Head coach
1959-60 St. John's University (College) Head coach
1960-61 St. John's University (College) Head coach
1961-62 St. John's University (College) Head coach
1962-63 St. John's University (College) Head coach
1963-64 St. John's University (College) Head coach
1964-65 St. John's University (College) Head coach 

NATIONAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME, 1964

One of the first big-men in the game, 6'5 Lapchick was a star for the Original Celtics when that time was the highest-drawing professional team in the country. He would also four many teams at the same time, able to make a decent enough living at the game in an era where the term "professional" was not as independent as later days. He was on the Celtics when they took over the Brooklyn franchise in the ABL, and the Celtics were a dominant force. So dominant, in fact, the team was forced to disband by the other franchises. Lapchick and two other Celtics would join the Cleveland Rosenblums and they won two ABL titles. When the Depression ended the ABL in 1931, Lapchick and the others reformed the Celtics. Lapchick would retire as a play in 1937 when he took the head coaching job at St. John's.
As a coach, Lapchick lead St. John's to four NIT championships in his time there, which was interrupted by nine seasons coaching the Knicks. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1964, and died of heart failure in 1970.


Source:
Basketball Hall of Fame
NY Times Obituary, August 11, 1970
Philadelphia Inquirer, August 11, 1970
Asheville Citizen-Times, August 11, 1970

Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/joe-lapchick/

Nat Holman

Nathan Holman


Born:
October 19, 1896
New York, NY

Died:
February 12, 1995
New York, NY


Career
Commerce High School - New York (High School)
1916-17 Savage School (College)
1916-17 Hoboken Hobs (IBL)
1917-18 Bridgeport Blue Ribbons (CSL)
1917-18 Jersey City Greenvilles (Independent)
1918-19 Newark Whirlwind AA (Independent)
1918-19 Bridgeport Blue Ribbons (Independent)
1919-20 Germantown Geraniums (EBL)
1919-20 Jersey City Skeeters / Brooklyn Dodgers (IBL)
1919-20 Scranton Miners (PSL)
1919-20 Albany Senators (NYSL)
1919-20 Newark Whirlwind AA (Independent)
1919-20 Brooklyn Van & Schneck (Independent)
1919-20 New York Whirlwinds (Independent)
1919-20 Bridgeport Blue Ribbons (Independent)
1919-20 Danbury (Independent)
1919-20 Jersey City Greenvilles (Independent)
1919-20 Newark City AC (Independent)
1919-20 Passaic AA (Independent)
1919-20 CCNY (College) Head coach
1920-21 Germantown Geraniums (EBL)
1920-21 Norwalk Co. K (CSL)
1920-21 Pittsfield Hillies (NYSL)
1920-21 Westfield Whip City AC (IL)
1920-21 Original Celtics (Independent)
1920-21 CCNY (College) Head coach
1921-22 Original Celtics (Independent)
1921-22 New York Celtics (EBL)
1921-22 CCNY (College) Head coach
1922-23 New York Original Celtics (MBL)
1922-23 Atlantic City Sandsnipers (EBL)
1922-23 Original Celtics (Independent)
1922-23 CCNY (College) Head coach
1923-24 Original Celtics (Independent)
1923-24 CCNY (College) Head coach
1924-25 Original Celtics (Independent)
1924-25 CCNY (College) Head coach
1925-26 Original Celtics (Independent)
1925-26 CCNY (College) Head coach
1926-27 New York Celtics (NYN)
1926-27 Brooklyn Celtics (ABL)
1926-27 CCNY (College) Head coach
1927-28 New York Celtics (ABL)
1927-28 CCNY (College) Head coach
1928-29 New York Hakoahs (ABL)
1928-29 CCNY (College) Head coach
1929-30 New York Celtics (ABL)
1929-30 Syracuse All-Americans (ABL)

1929-30 Chicago Bruins (ABL)
1929-30 CCNY (College) Head coach
1930-31 CCNY (College) Head coach
1931-32 CCNY (College) Head coach
1932-33 CCNY (College) Head coach
1933-34 CCNY (College) Head coach
1934-35 CCNY (College) Head coach
1935-36 CCNY (College) Head coach
1936-37 CCNY (College) Head coach
1937-38 CCNY (College) Head coach
1938-39 CCNY (College) Head coach
1939-40 CCNY (College) Head coach
1940-41 CCNY (College) Head coach
1941-42 CCNY (College) Head coach
1942-43 CCNY (College) Head coach
1943-44 CCNY (College) Head coach
1944-45 CCNY (College) Head coach
1945-46 CCNY (College) Head coach
1946-47 CCNY (College) Head coach
1947-48 CCNY (College) Head coach
1948-49 CCNY (College) Head coach
1949-50 CCNY (College) Head coach
1950-51 CCNY (College) Head coach
1951-52 CCNY (College) Head coach
1954-55 CCNY (College) Head coach
1955-56 CCNY (College) Head coach
1958-59 CCNY (College) Head coach

NATIONAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME, 1964

Holman was one of the game's first true innovators, both as a player and as a coach. After attending the Savage School of Physical Education, he played professional basketball while coaching basketball at CCNY. He was best known on the court as a player for the famous Original Celtics, but played for many different teams both barnstorming and in leagues. As a coach, he started at CCNY in 1919 and would coach through the 1958-59 season, with a couple year gaps in the late 50's. He was one of the first proponents of the man-to-man defensive scheme, which helped his squad to become the first school to win the NIT and NCAA tournament in 1950. The point-shaving scandal that rocked CCNY and college sports in the 1950's virtually destroyed CCNY's athletic program. He would work with high school and junior high school teams as a mentor, and died at the age of 98

Source:
Jews In Sports
http://digital-archives.ccny.cuny.edu/exhibits/holman/intro.html
NY Times Obituary, February 13, 1995

Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/nat-holman/

Dutch Dehnert

Henry Gerard (George?) "Dutch" Dehnert, Jr.


Born:
April 5, 1898
New York, NY

Died:
April 20, 1979
Far Rockaway, NY


Career
1917-18 Danbury/Jersey City Skeeters (IBL)
1917-18 Norwalk 1st Home Guard (IBL)
1917-18 Wilkes Barre Barons (PSL)
1917-18 Nanticoke Nans (PSL)
1918-19 Newark Turners (Independent)
1918-19 Ansonia (Independent)
1918-19 Downey Shipyard (Independent)
1919-20 Nanticoke Nans (PSL)
1919-20 Bridgeport Blue Ribbons (IBL)
1919-20 Utica Utes (NYSL)
1919-20 De Neri Daisies (EBL)

1919-20 North Philadelphia Americans (EBL)
1919-20 Bridgeport Blue Ribbons (EBL)
1919-20 Thompsonville Big-Harts (IL)
1920-21 Philadelphia Phillies (EBL)
1920-21 Scranton Miners (PSL)
1920-21 Thompsonville Bigelow-Hartfords (IL)
1920-21 Johnny Beckman All Stars (Independent)
1920-21 Original Celtics (Independent)
1921-22 Original Celtics (Independent)
1921-22 Scranton Miners (EBL)
1921–22 New York Celtics (EBL)
1922-23 New York Celtics (MBL)
1923-24 Original Celtics (Independent)
1924-25 Original Celtics (Independent)
1925-26 Original Celtics (Independent)
1926-27 New York Celtics (NLN)
1926-27 Brooklyn Celtics (ABL)
1927-28 New York Celtics (ABL)
1927-28 Utica All-Utica (Independent)
1928-29 Cleveland Rosenblums (ABL)
1929-30 Cleveland Rosenblums (ABL)
1930-31 Cleveland Rosenblums (ABL)
1930-31 Toledo Red Men (ABL) Head coach / player
1931-32 Original Celtics (Independent)
1932-33 Original Celtics (Independent)
1933-34 Original Celtics (Independent)
1933-34 Plymouth (PSL)
1934-35 New Britain Jackaways (ABL)
1934-35 Original Celtics (Independent)
1935-36 Original Celtics (Independent)
1936-37 Original Celtics (Independent)
1937-38 Original Celtics (Independent)
1938-39 Original Celtics (Independent)
1940-41 Detroit Eagles (NBL) Head coach
1941-42 Detroit Eagles (Independent) Head coach
1941-42 Saratoga (NYSL) Head coach
1942-43 Harrisburg Senators (ABL) Head coach
1943-44 Trenton Tigers (ABL) Head coach
1944-45 Sheboygan Redskins (NBL) Head coach
1945-46 Sheboygan Redskins (NBL) Head coach
1946-47 Cleveland Rebels (BAA) Head coach
1947-48 Chattanooga Majors (PBLA) Head coach
1947-48 Saratoga Indians (NYSL) Head coach
1948-49 Saratoga Indians (NYSL) Head coach

NATIONAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME, 1969

New York's Dutch Dehnert was an early star of the game. A long-time star with the legendary Original Celtics, Dehert played with many different teams in the late teens and early 1920's before finally latching on with the Celtics. The most popular barnstorming team, the stocky Dehnert made a name for himself as a player and a leader on the court. It was only natural that he would eventually become a player / coach, and then a head coach.

The Original Celtics joined a few leagues in the east as well as barnstorming, and when the Celtics took the place of the Brooklyn team early into the 1926-27 ABL season, Dehnert stayed with them through the 1927-28 season when he moved to the Cleveland Rosenblums. He would return to the Celtics when the ABL shutdown during the Great Depression. After playing through the 1930's, he quit playing and became a full-time head coach. He lead the Detroit Eagles of the NBL in 1940-41 season, and also the nexst year when the Eagles left the NBL to play independently. He headed back to New York in mid-season, finishing the Saratoga Indians season at the helm. He coached a couple seasons in the reborn ABL before returning to the NBL to lead the Sheboygan Redskins. This lead to him coaching the BAA's Cleveland team in that league's inaugural season in 1946-47, then the Chattamooga Majors in the PBLA in that ill-fated league. Once the PBLA disintegrated, he returned to Saratoga to coach two more seasons. Widely credited with developing the pivot play, Dehnert was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1969.

He was 81 when he died of a heart attack in 1979.


Dutch married Anna Geier (1899-1996) and they had two daughters and one son.

Source:
San Bernadino County Sun, April 26, 1979
http://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/dutch-dehnert/

Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/dutch-dehnert/