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John McLendon named to Naismith Hall of Fame
SCOTT CHASEN @SChosenKL
@SChosenKU
On Monday, Kansas graduate John McLendon was named to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach, according to a release from the outlet.
McLendon became the first African-American coach in a professional league in 1962. He died in 1999 at the age of 84.
McLendon is credited with inventing the four corners offense, which
was later popularized by North Carolina coach Dean Smith. According to the KU Athletics release, McLendon was mentored by Dr. James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, while at Kansas.
Among his many accomplishments, McLendon was the first African-American coach to win a national championship and an AAU national championship.
He joins former NBA greats Allen Iverson and Shaquille O'Neal, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo and four-time WNBA
Champion Sheryl Swoopes
- among others - in the class, according to the release.
As a whole, the class will be inducted at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Sept. 9.
- Edited by Sarah Kruger
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