John Longfellow, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death
TweetJohn Longfellow
American basketball player-coach
Date of Birth: 02-Sep-1896
Place of Birth: Warsaw, Indiana, United States
Date of Death: 10-Dec-1956
Profession: basketball coach
Nationality: United States
Zodiac Sign: Virgo 
About John Longfellow
- John Landis Longfellow was an American basketball coach and player.
- He is best known as National Title winning-head men's basketball coach at Indiana State University as well as leading the US to a Gold Medal in the 1951 Pan-Am Games. Born in Warsaw, Indiana, Longfellow was an outstanding Indiana high school coach for the Hartford City Airdales, the Leesburg Blue Blazers and the Nappanee Bulldogs.
- However, his greatest success came with the Elkhart Blazers.
- All told, his teams won over 375 games and 24 state tourney titles in 19 years of coaching. He moved to Indiana State University, replacing the legendary John Wooden.
- In his first season, he led the Sycamores to the NAIA National Tournament in Kansas City, they finished 4th.
- In 1950, the Sycamores won the NAIA National Title.
- Based on their finish, the eligible (those returning for the next season) Sycamores and Coach Longfellow were invited to represent the United States in the 1951 Pan-American Games.
- Longfellow served as Co-Head Coach and led the American squad to the Gold Medal, the first of many basketball Gold Medals in the Pan-American Games for the USA National Team. While at Indiana State, he coached some of their most successful players; Duane Klueh, Dick Atha, Don McDonald, Sam Richardson, Lenny Rzeszewski, and Rob Royer.
- He is currently tied (with Glenn M.
- Curtis in 4th place in career in coaching victories; Curtis does lead in winning percentage (73.1% to 65.6%).
- Stress-related heart problems led to his retirement from coaching early in the 1954-55 season, he remained as the Athletic Director until his retirement from the University in 1959.He was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1960; the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1967; the Indiana State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1984.
- In 2000, his 1949-50 NAIA National Title Team was inducted into the Indiana State University Hall of Fame.
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