John Longfellow
Encyclopedia
John L. Longfellow is a former American
basketball
player. He was the head men's basketball coach at Indiana State University
.
He was an outstanding Indiana high school coach at Hartford City, Leesburg and Nappanee. However, his greatest success came at Elkhart. All told, his teams won over 375 games and 24 state tourney titles in 19 years of coaching.
He moved to Indiana State
University, replacing the legendary John Wooden
. In his first season, he led the Sycamores to the NAIA National Tournament, finishing 4th. In 1950, the Sycamores won the NAIA National Title. Based on their finish, the eligible Sycamores and Coach Longfellow were invited to represent the United States in the 1951 Pan-American Games. Longfellow served as Co-Head Coach and led the American squad to the Gold Medal, the first of many basketball Gold Medals in the Pan-American Games.
While at Indiana State
, he coached some of their most successful players; Duane Klueh
, Dick Atha, Don McDonald, Sam Richardson, Clemens "Lenny" Rzeszewski, and Rob Royer. He remains 5th all-time in coaching victories.
He was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1960; the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame
in 1967; the Indiana State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1984. In 2000, his 1949-50 NAIA National Title Team was inducted into the Indiana State University Hall of Fame in 1984.
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. He was the head men's basketball coach at Indiana State University
Indiana State University
Indiana State University is a public university located in Terre Haute, Indiana, United States.The Princeton Review has named Indiana State as one of the "Best in the Midwest" seven years running, and the College of Education's Graduate Program was recently named as a 'Top 100' by U.S...
.
He was an outstanding Indiana high school coach at Hartford City, Leesburg and Nappanee. However, his greatest success came at Elkhart. All told, his teams won over 375 games and 24 state tourney titles in 19 years of coaching.
He moved to Indiana State
Indiana State Sycamores men's basketball
The Indiana State Sycamores basketball is the NCAA Division I men's basketball program of Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana. They currently compete in the Missouri Valley Conference...
University, replacing the legendary John Wooden
John Wooden
John Robert Wooden was an American basketball player and coach. Nicknamed the "Wizard of Westwood", he won ten NCAA national championships in a 12-year period — seven in a row — as head coach at UCLA, an unprecedented feat. Within this period, his teams won a record 88 consecutive games...
. In his first season, he led the Sycamores to the NAIA National Tournament, finishing 4th. In 1950, the Sycamores won the NAIA National Title. Based on their finish, the eligible Sycamores and Coach Longfellow were invited to represent the United States in the 1951 Pan-American Games. Longfellow served as Co-Head Coach and led the American squad to the Gold Medal, the first of many basketball Gold Medals in the Pan-American Games.
While at Indiana State
Indiana State Sycamores men's basketball
The Indiana State Sycamores basketball is the NCAA Division I men's basketball program of Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana. They currently compete in the Missouri Valley Conference...
, he coached some of their most successful players; Duane Klueh
Duane Klueh
Duane M. Klueh is a retired American basketball player and coach. He currently lives in Terre Haute, Indiana and was the head men's basketball coach at Indiana State University for 12 seasons...
, Dick Atha, Don McDonald, Sam Richardson, Clemens "Lenny" Rzeszewski, and Rob Royer. He remains 5th all-time in coaching victories.
He was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1960; the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame
Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame
The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame is a sports museum and hall of fame in New Castle, Indiana. It honors men and women associated with high school, college and professional basketball in Indiana....
in 1967; the Indiana State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1984. In 2000, his 1949-50 NAIA National Title Team was inducted into the Indiana State University Hall of Fame in 1984.
Head coaching record
External links
- http://hoopshall.com/hall/l/john-l-longfellow/ @ hoopshall.com