November 6, 1861 – November 28, 1939
Canadian-born James Naismith was a physical educator, coach and inventor. He is most remembered for inventing the game of basketball at a Massachusetts YMCA in 1891. Naismith then went on to become the first basketball coach at the University of Kansas. He famously told his successor, Forest “Phog” Allen, that you “can’t coach basketball; you just play it.” He was partially right. HE wasn’t that great at coaching it. He retired with a 55–60 career record.
Celebrity Graveland 