ADOLPH F. RUPP
1901 - 1977
Inducted - 1973

Known as “The Baron of Basketball” Adolph Rupp of Halstead, Kansas, retired in 1972 as the winningest coach in NCAA history with 876 wins. Rupp was a member of the 1922 and 1923 teams at Kansas University which won Helms Foundation national championships under coach Phog Allen. He began his coaching career at Burr Oak, Kentucky in 1931. Rupp coached at Kentucky for 42 seasons and compiled a record of 876 wins and 190 losses - a winning percentage of 82 percent. As coach of the Wildcats, Rupp guided his teams to 27 Southeastern Conference titles, an NIT championship and four NCAA crowns (1948, 1949, 1951 and 1958). Twenty-five players were All-Americans under his guidance and 31 of his players played professionally. He was named National Coach of the Year four times and SEC Coach of the Year seven times. He served as co-coach of the 1948 U.S. Olympic gold medal team in London and was selected as an Olympic goodwill ambassador the 1968 games in Mexico City. In 1966, he received the NABC/MIBA/NIT Award. Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky is named in his honor; Adolph Rupp Invitational Basketball tournament in Halstead, Kansas, also named in his honor. Elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1968. Born September 2, 1901-Halstead,KS. Died December 10, 1977. Graduated Halstead (KS) H.S. ,1919;University of Kansas, 1923.