Basketball Hall of Fame
 
W. Harold Anderson enshrined as a coach in 1985

W. Harold Anderson

Enshrined 1985
Born: September 11, 1902
Akron, OH
Died: June 13, 1967


One of the first coaches in college basketball to record 500 victories, game after game the superstitious Harold Anderson wore the same suit when his team was on a winning streak. But despite his idiosyncrasies, Anderson cemented a national reputation for producing consistent teams that played hard, clean, and fair basketball. He pioneered the run and gun, up-tempo style of play, a brand of basketball that developed a host of All-America athletes, the most prominent being Hall of Famer Nate Thurmond. Anderson coached in six NIT and three NCAA tournaments and was the first coach in history to take two different teams (Toledo, Bowling Green University) to the NIT. As an officer and president of the NABC, Anderson was instrumental in forging the East-West All-Star Game.


 
 
  • NIT third place finish with Toledo, 1942
  • Led Bowling Green to six NIT and three NCAA tournament berths
  • First coach to take two different schools to the NIT
  • President, NABC, 1962-63
 
Basketball Hall of Fame
Basketball Hall of Fame