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Adolph Rupp was born in Halstead, Kansas just two years after the game of basketball was invented. As a player at Kansas, Rupp played on two National Championship teams under legendary Coach Forrest “Phog” Allen. He began his coaching career at Burr Oak, Kansas, and later coached at Marshalltown, Iowa, and Freeport, Illinois, prior to becoming head coach at the University of Kentucky in 1930. Coach Rupp remained at Kentucky for the next 42 seasons. At UK, Rupp compiled a record of 879 wins against 190 losses for a career winning percentage of 82.2%, which is still the highest among Division 1 coaches with over 600 career wins. In the 2009-2010 season, UK became the first Division 1 school ever to win 2000 games—Coach Rupp’s teams were responsible for 44% of that record number.
Under Adolph Rupp, Kentucky won 27 SEC titles, 2 Helms Foundation National Championships, 1 NIT National Championship, and 4 NCAA Championships. His teams were unmatched in SEC league play, earning a 397-75 (84.1%) record against league opponents. In SEC conference tournament action, Rupp's Wildcats were 57-6, winning 13 titles in 19 appearances.
Twenty three players of Rupp’s players were All-Americans, and 31 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, was selected as an Olympic goodwill ambassador to the 1968 games in Mexico City, and was inducted into the National Basketball Hall of Fame in 1969.
Rupp was a master of motivation and strategy, often using local talent to build his teams. In fact, throughout his career, more than 80% of Rupp's players came from the state of Kentucky. He was one of the first coaches in the nation to promote a faster style of play, implement what later became known as “the fast-break,” and employ man-to-man defense. Many of Coach Rupp’s tactics are still in most coaches’ playbooks to this day. Because of Rupp’s success , Kentucky games regularly drew more fans than could fit into the gym, and what had been an overlooked sport quickly became the state’s new hallmark.
In a day when most schools never traveled far from home, Rupp was constantly taking his Wildcats across the country in search of competition. Whenever Coach Rupp heard of a team anywhere in the country that someone thought was better than Kentucky, he was quick to arrange a game. He is famous for having told the coaches of such teams, “We’ll come to you, play on your court and use your officials. I just want to play.”
Kentucky still holds the record for the longest Division 1 home-court winning streak at 129 games over 12 years, a record they achieved under Adolph Rupp. One of sports most recognized venues, RUPP ARENA in Lexington, Kentucky, is named in honor of Coach Rupp. Ironically, the arena was dedicated in 1975 with the “Baron of the Bluegrass” in attendance as the Kentucky Wildcats defeated his alma mater, the Kansas Jayhawks. He died on December 10, 1977, in Lexington, Kentucky on a night when Kentucky once again defeated the Jayhawks at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas. Coincidentally, the game that night was promoted as "Adolph Rupp Night", in his honor.
Last but not least, Coach Rupp’s legacy as a humanitarian is legendary in its own merit. His commitment and devotion to the Shriner’s Hospitals and his service to the American Cancer Society were but two of his many civic involvements. He was honored by many educational and civic organizations around the country throughout his career. |
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"One of the fiercest competitors in the game of basketball. I would always like to play his team early in the season because he always told us what was wrong with our team."
Ray Meyer DePaul Univ. Coach (1942 to 1984) Hall of Fame Inductee
“One of the most sound coaches basketball has ever seen.”
John Wooden UCLA Coach (1948 to 1975) Hall of Fame Inductee
“I think the reason why he was so successful is because he was probably, at that time, the hardest working coach in college basketball. The University of Kentucky, today, is a monument, from a basketball standpoint because of one person, and one person only, and that was the 41 years that Adolph Rupp taught the game of basketball at Kentucky. Playing for Rupp was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. Being in his program for four years and experiencing his no-nonsense approach, he probably influenced me more than any man I've ever been around, other than my father.”
Pat Riley Univ. of KY All-American (1963 to 1967) NBA All-Star Miami Heat Head Coach Hall of Fame Inductee
“Every time you see a basketball goal on a barn or kids in a playground, you have to credit Rupp. His presence will last forever, in Kentucky and across the nation.”
Cliff Hagan Univ. of KY All American (1951 to 1954) NBA All-Star Former U.K. Athletic Director Hall of Fame Inductee
“He was a brilliant recruiter, teacher, motivator, and innovator… as former coaches Frank McGuire…and Whack Hyder have said in interviews, Rupp deserves most of the credit for popularizing basketball in the South.”
Billy Reed National Sportswriter U.S. Basketball Writers Hall of Fame
“The final judgment should be that the game of basketball would not be where it is today without Coach Rupp.”
Chip Alexander Syndicated Columnist Raleigh News Observer
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“If winning isn't so important, why do you keep score?"
"I know I have plenty of enemies, but I'd rather be the most-hated winning coach in the country than the most-popular losing one."
"What to do with a mistake--recognize it, admit it, learn from it, forget it. ... that's why they put erasers on pencils."
"Defeat and failure to me are enemies. Without victory, basketball has little meaning. I would not give one iota to make the trip from the cradle to the grave unless I could live in a competitive world."
“Never worry about criticism from the misinformed.”
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Notable Quotes |
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Click below to watch a video about Coach Rupp’s legacy |
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Click below to listen to Coach Rupp |