John W. Bunn Enshrined 1964 Wellston, OH September 26, 1898 - August 13, 1979 Biography As a coach, teacher, lecturer, and prolific writer, John Bunn was a national and international authority on basketball. First playing and coaching under Hall of Famer Phog Allen at the University of Kansas, Bunn moved on as head coach at Stanford, building the Cardinal program into a national power. Bunn's teams played a coast-to-coast schedule, a rarity in those days, which helped to establish West Coast basketball. In 1937, Stanford won the Helms Foundation National Championship behind Hall of Famer Hank Luisetti. Bunn, who also coached at Springfield College (1946-56) and Colorado State College (1958-63), initiated many rule changes, most notably the elimination of the center jump following a field goal in 1937. Due to his extensive foreign travel, Bunn was dubbed the "American Ambassador of Basketball." For his tireless contribution, the Basketball Hall of Fame annually presents an award in his name. Career Highlights Coached Stanford to Pacific Coast Conference championships, 1936-38 Helms Athletic Foundation Championship with Stanford, 1937 Chairman, Basketball Hall of Fame, 1949-63 Editor, College Guide and Official Rules Interpreter, 1959-60