Bruce Drake

Bruce Drake (December 5, 1905 – December 4, 1983) was a college men's basketball coach. The Gentry, Texas native was head coach at the University of Oklahoma between 1938 and 1955, compiling a 200-181 record. He also coached the Air Force team to a 34-14 record in 1956

Prior to coaching, he was also a star for Hugh McDermott's Oklahoma team. He was a 1928-29 Helms Foundation All American.

As a coach Drake made 2 Final Fours the first one in 1939 Where they lost to Oregon 55-37 and in 1947 where he lost in the Championship Game to Holy Cross 58-47. He made 1 more additional NCAA tournament appearance in 1943 though he coached at a time when only 8 team made the tournament. In all he won or tied for 6 conference championships (Big Six and Big Seven).

He coached 5 Olympic ( [Wayne Glasgow and Marcus Freiberger of University of Oklahoma, 1952; Bill Evans, Ron Tomsic and Gib Ford of Air Force team, 1956) and three All-Americas (Jimmy McNatt, 1940; Gerald Tucker, 1943, 1947; Allie Paine, 1944)

Drake was selected as the assistant coach for the 1956 USA Men's Basketball Gold Medal Olympic Team [http://www.usabasketball.com/news.php?news_page=moly_1956]

In 1958 he coached the Wichita Vickers in the National Industrial Basketball League getting 30-21 record tying him for first with his old player Gerald Tucker who was coaching the Bartlesville Phillips 66ers.

lasting contributionsDrake developed the Shuffle offense.He helped make goal tending illegal.He was the Chairman of the NCAA Rules Committee from 1951-55

He made the Basketball Hall of Fame as a Coach in 1973

External links

* [http://www.hoophall.com/halloffamers/Drake.htm Basketball Hall of Fame profile]

Persondata
NAME=Drake, Bruce
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Basketball player and coach
DATE OF BIRTH=December 5, 1905
PLACE OF BIRTH=Gentry, Texas
DATE OF DEATH=December 4, 1983
PLACE OF DEATH=