Jay McCreary
Encyclopedia
Lawrence J. "Jay" McCreary (February 6, 1918 - April 17, 1995) was an American
basketball
player and coach. He won championships as a player in both high school and college, and as a high school coach in Indiana
. McCreary also served as head coach at Louisiana State University
.
Jay McCreary was an Indiana state All-Star as a guard at Frankfort High School, where he led the team to a State championship
in 1936. Following his prep career, McCreary went to play for Indiana University
and was a key player on the 1939–40 Indiana Hoosiers national championship team
.
After serving in the United States Army
during World War II
, McCreary returned to his alma mater as an assistant to his former coach, Branch McCracken
. After two years he moved to DePauw University
, then to Muncie Central High School
, where he led the Bearcats to the 1952 state title. From Muncie Central, McCreary was named head coach at LSU. In eight seasons (1957–1965), McCreary's teams went 82–115 (.416). He was succeeded in 1965 by Frank Truitt, but returned to Baton Rouge as an assistant in 1966, he served in this capacity for Truitt and Press Maravich
until Maravich's firing in 1972.
Jay McCreary died on April 17, 1995.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
basketball
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...
player and coach. He won championships as a player in both high school and college, and as a high school coach in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. McCreary also served as head coach at Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
.
Jay McCreary was an Indiana state All-Star as a guard at Frankfort High School, where he led the team to a State championship
Indiana High School Boys Basketball Champions
1911 - Crawfordsville 1912 - Lebanon 1913 - Wingate 1914 - Wingate 1915 - Thorntown 1916 - Lafayette 1917 – Lebanon 1918 - Lebanon 1919 - Bloomington 1920 - Franklin1921 - Franklin 1922 - Franklin 1923 - Vincennes 1924 - Martinsville...
in 1936. Following his prep career, McCreary went to play for Indiana University
Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball
The Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing Indiana University . The school competes in the Big Ten Conference in Division I of the NCAA. The Hoosiers play on Branch McCracken Court at the Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana on the IU...
and was a key player on the 1939–40 Indiana Hoosiers national championship team
1939–40 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team
The 1939–40 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team represented Indiana University. The Head Coach was Branch McCracken and was a member of the Big Ten Conference...
.
After serving in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, McCreary returned to his alma mater as an assistant to his former coach, Branch McCracken
Branch McCracken
Branch McCracken was a college men's basketball coach.As a player at Indiana, the Monrovia, Indiana native was a three-year letter winner for Hall of Fame coach Everett Dean...
. After two years he moved to DePauw University
DePauw University
DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, USA, is a private, national liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,400 students. The school has a Methodist heritage and was originally known as Indiana Asbury University. DePauw is a member of both the Great Lakes Colleges Association...
, then to Muncie Central High School
Muncie Central High School
Muncie Central High School in Muncie, Indiana, is a public high school which had an enrollment of 899 at the end of the 2010/2011 school year. The school is part of the Muncie Community Schools Corp. It opened in 1868.-History:...
, where he led the Bearcats to the 1952 state title. From Muncie Central, McCreary was named head coach at LSU. In eight seasons (1957–1965), McCreary's teams went 82–115 (.416). He was succeeded in 1965 by Frank Truitt, but returned to Baton Rouge as an assistant in 1966, he served in this capacity for Truitt and Press Maravich
Press Maravich
Petar "Press" Maravich was an American college and professional basketball coach. He received the nickname "Press" for always having gossip-styled updates in his hometown of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, a Pittsburgh suburb. Maravich Sr...
until Maravich's firing in 1972.
Jay McCreary died on April 17, 1995.