John McLendon​

Basketball
Inducted: 1994
  • Born in Hiawatha, KS, 1915 
  • Graduate of Kansas, where he studied basketball with James Naismith, its inventor
  • Coached at North Carolina College (now North Carolina Central) from 1940–1952
  • Winner of four CIAA titles
  • Coached Tennessee A&I State University to 1957, 1958, and 1959 NAIA national titles
  • Coached at Hampton Institute
  • Career collegiate coaching record of 523-162
  • Named CIAA Coach of the Year in 1948
  • Honored as NAIA Coach of the Year in 1958
  • Coached ABL Cleveland Pipers in 1962 and ABA Denver Rockets from 1969–1970
  • First African American head coach in major sports league
  • Pioneer in fast break and four corners
  • Author of books on basketball strategy
  • Member Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, NAIA Hall of Fame, and CIAA Hall of Fame
  • Died in 1999