Beryl Shipley
Encyclopedia
Beryl Cylde Shipley was an American former basketball
coach. Shipley was born in Kingsport, Tennessee
. He was a longtime coach at University of Louisiana at Lafayette
, where he broke the color barrier
at that school, and faced intense criticism and opposition for doing so. In 1975 he became coach of the ABA
's San Diego Conquistadors
. After this, he retired from coaching and became involved in the oil distribution business. Shipley suffered two heart attacks in the 1980s and later had surgery to repair an aortic aneurysm. He was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2010 which eventually spread into his brain. Shipley died on April 15, 2011 at the age of 84.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
coach. Shipley was born in Kingsport, Tennessee
Kingsport, Tennessee
Kingsport is a city located mainly in Sullivan County with some western portions in Hawkins County in the US state of Tennessee. The majority of the city lies in Sullivan County...
. He was a longtime coach at University of Louisiana at Lafayette
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, or UL Lafayette, is a coeducational, public research university located in Lafayette, Louisiana, in the heart of Acadiana...
, where he broke the color barrier
Racial segregation
Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
at that school, and faced intense criticism and opposition for doing so. In 1975 he became coach of the ABA
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
's San Diego Conquistadors
San Diego Conquistadors
The San Diego Conquistadors, nicknamed the "Q's", were an American Basketball Association team based in San Diego, California. They were the only expansion team in the history of the ABA. The team played from 1972 to 1975. They were replaced in the ABA by the San Diego Sails.-San Diego...
. After this, he retired from coaching and became involved in the oil distribution business. Shipley suffered two heart attacks in the 1980s and later had surgery to repair an aortic aneurysm. He was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2010 which eventually spread into his brain. Shipley died on April 15, 2011 at the age of 84.