Fred Taylor (basketball coach)

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Fred R. Taylor (born December 3, 1924 in Zanesville, Ohio, United States - died January 6, 2002 in Columbus, Ohio) was a college men's basketball coach for The Ohio State University from 1959 to 1976.

Contents 1 College career 2 Coaching career 3 Retirement 4 External links

[edit] College career

After graduating from Lash High School in Zanesville in 1943, Taylor entered the United States Army Air Forces where he served from 1943 to 1946. Despite never having played high school basketball he became an outstanding player at Ohio State and was the starting forward on the 1950 Big Ten Conference championship basketball team. In addition he won All-American honors in baseball.

[edit] Coaching career

After briefly playing professional baseball for the Washington Senators from 1950-1952, Taylor returned to Ohio State as assistant basketball coach in 1958, becoming head coach the following year.

During his 18 years at Ohio State, the Buckeyes won the 1960 NCAA championship, were finalists in 1961 and 1962 and claimed a third place finish in 1968. In his five NCAA tournament appearances, Taylor's teams went 14-4 and also won or shared seven Big Ten titles. Taylor finished his career with an overall record of 297-158 and was named Coach of the Year by the USBWA and UPI in 1961 and 1962. A talented recruiter, Taylor coached six All-Americans as well as Hall of Famers Jerry Lucas, John Havlicek and Bobby Knight.

Taylor served as President of the National Association of Basketball Coaches in 1972, was a member of the U.S. Olympic Basketball Committee from 1964 to 1972

[edit] Retirement

After retiring from coaching in 1976, Taylor managed the U.S. National Team in the 1978 FIBA World Championships and the 1979 Pan American Games. In addition, Taylor managed a golf course not far from Columbus for several years.

On May 6, 1986 Taylor was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame, having previously been selected to the Ohio State Hall of Fame.

[edit] External links

• Baseball Reference
• Hall of Fame bio
• 2002 Sports Illustrated Obituary

Preceded by: Floyd Stahl	Ohio State Buckeyes Men's Head Basketball Coach 1958 - 1976	Succeeded by: Eldon Miller
Preceded by: Norbert Ranz	Ohio State Buckeyes Baseball Captains 1949	Succeeded by: Pete Perini

Ohio State Buckeyes Head Basketball Coaches
Huddleson • Kibler • Raymond • St. John • Trautman • Olsen • Dye • Stahl • Taylor • Miller • Williams • Ayers • O'Brien • Matta