Phog Allen: The Father of Basketball Coaching
Most people know the origins of basketball; how in the winter of 1891 James Naismith invented the game to keep students active in the winter. But what most people do not know is how coaching the game of basketball got started. In the early days of basketball most teams did not have a coach as there was very little strategy to the game - most players relied on their athletic prowess rather than their brains to score. Even the games inventor, James Naismith, did not believe that basketball needed coaching. In his word you "Just play the game". But as the game got more popular players started figuring out how to manipulate the outcome of the game by doing things to prevent the other team from scoring; such as zone defenses.
There were many early attempts at coaching in basketball, even the games inventor was coaching, but the most impactful early coaching advocate was Forrest "Phog" Allen. Allen was a multi-sport star athlete – who was mentored by Naismith at the University of Kansas. After graduating from Kansas, Allen took a few years off of basketball to become a doctor.
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Allen got his first coaching job in 1905 at Baker University in Kanas. Allen was Baker's coach while he was still attending and playing for the University of Kansas. Allen would also coach both Kansas and Baker at the same time during the 1907-08 season. The 07-08 season would be Allen's last at Baker, he would leave having won 45 games and only losing 9 games.
Under Allen's tutorage the Jayhawks of Kansas would win two Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association titles while compiling a 43-9 record. Allen surprised many when he left Kansas after just two seasons to pursue his education.
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After 3 years away from coaching Allen would be hired on at Warrensburg Teachers College, now the University of Central Missouri. Allen seen immediate success at Warrensburg winning two conference titles in his first two seasons, but would not win another conference title in his next 5 seasons at Warrensburg. Allen would coach seven years at Warrensburg compiling am 84-31 record.
In 1919 Allen would get his last coaching job, a job he would hold until 1956, at the University of Kansas. Allen became a star on campus because of his friendly clam yet stern demeanor and earned the nickname Phog because of his foghorn like voice. He would also change the culture of Kansas athletics and make them into an athletic powerhouse.
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The Jayhawks would win back-to-back Helms championships in 1922 and 1923, and Kansas would win conference titles from 1922 until 1927. In Allen's 37 year tenure with Kansas the Jayhawks would win 22 conference titles and would win the 1952 NCAA National Title.
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In 1955 and 56 Allen recruited the highly talented Wilt Chamberlain to Kansas, but would never get to coach Chamberlain. Allen retired following the 1955-56 season at 70 years old. A lot of people felt that he was forced out because of his age, none the less he remained active at the University of Kansas.
Allen compiled a 590-219 record at Kansas and finished his coaching career with 746 wins and just 264 losses, which was the most wins by a head coach in NCAA history when he retired. Phog Allen would die in 1974 at age 88.
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Season Team Overall Conf. Standing Postseason
1905-06 Baker 18–3
1906-07 Baker 14–0
1907-08 Baker 13–6
1907–08 Kansas 18–6 6–0 1st (North)
1908–09 Kansas 25–3 8–2 1st (North)
1908–09 Haskell 27–5
1912–13 Warrensburg Teachers 11–7 6–0 1st
1913–14 Warrensburg Teachers 15–4 9–1 1st
1914–15 Warrensburg Teachers 13–4
1915–16 Warrensburg Teachers 9–4
1916–17 Warrensburg Teachers 13–2
1917–18 Warrensburg Teachers 9–4
1918–19 Warrensburg Teachers 14–6
1919–20 Kansas 10–7 9–7 3rd
1920–21 Kansas 10–8 10–8 4th
1921–22 Kansas 16–2 15–1 T-1st Helms National Champion
1922–23 Kansas 17–1 16–0 1st Helms National Champion
1923–24 Kansas 16–3 15–1 1st
1924–25 Kansas 17–1 15–1 1st
1925–26 Kansas 16–2 16–2 1st
1926–27 Kansas 15–2 10–2 1st
1927–28 Kansas 9–9 9–9 4th
1928–29 Kansas 3–15 2–8 T-5th
1929–30 Kansas 14–4 7–2 2nd
1930–31 Kansas 15–3 7–3 1st
1931–32 Kansas 13–5 7–3 1st
1932–33 Kansas 13–4 8–2 1st
1933–34 Kansas 16–1 9–1 1st
1934–35 Kansas 15–5 12–4 2nd
1935–36 Kansas 21–2 10–0 1st
1936–37 Kansas 15–4 8–2 T-1st
1937–38 Kansas 18–2 9–1 1st
1938–39 Kansas 13–7 6–4 3rd
1939–40 Kansas 19–6 8–2 T-1st NCAA Runner-up
1940–41 Kansas 12–6 7–3 T-1st
1941–42 Kansas 17–5 8–2 T-1st NCAA Quarterfinal Round
1942–43 Kansas 22–6 10–0 1st
1943–44 Kansas 17–9 5–5 3rd
1944–45 Kansas 12–5 7–3 2nd
1945–46 Kansas 19–2 10–0 1st
1946–47 Kansas 8–5
1947–48 Kansas 9–15 4–8 T-6th
1948–49 Kansas 12–12 3–9 T-6th
1949–50 Kansas 14–11 8–4 T-1st
1950–51 Kansas 16–8 8–4 T-2nd
1951–52 Kansas 28–3 11–1 1st NCAA Champion
1952–53 Kansas 19–6 10–2 1st NCAA Runner-up
1953–54 Kansas 16–5 10–2 T-1st
1954–55 Kansas 11–10 5–7 5th
1955–56 Kansas 14–9 6–6 5th
Baker: 45 - 9 (.833)
Haskell: 27 - 5 (.844)
Warrensburg Teachers: 84 -31 (.730)
Kansas: 590-219 (.729)
Total: 746-264 (.739)
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