Joe Dan Gold

Joe Dan Gold
Sport(s) Basketball
Biographical details
Born July 7, 1942
Died April 14, 2011
Place of death West Liberty, Kentucky
Playing career
1960–1963 Mississippi State
Position(s) Forward
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1964–1965
1965–1970
1971–1973
1973–1974		 Mississippi State (Asst.)
Mississippi State
Paducah JC
Mercer
Head coaching record
Overall 67–82

Joe Dan Gold (July 7, 1942 – April 14, 2011) was an American basketball player and coach, most notably at Mississippi State University.

Contents

Early life and college

Gold, a 6'5 forward from Benton, Kentucky, played at Mississippi State from 1960 to 1963, where he helped lead the Bulldogs to three shared or outright Southeastern Conference titles playing for coach Babe McCarthy. Gold averaged 12.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game for his career. He was named third team All-SEC as a senior and was a member of the SEC academic honor roll.[1]

In his senior year, Gold was a member of the first Mississippi State basketball team to compete against African-American players. After turning down NCAA tournament invitations in previous years, Coach McCarthy and his team accepted a bid to the 1963 NCAA tournament (the school's first), where they faced an integrated Loyola of Chicago team. The Bulldogs had to sneak out of the state to play the game, as they defied an order from Mississippi governor Ross Barnett. Gold's pregame handshake with Loyola star Jerry Harkness was the subject of a photograph that was heavily circulated in newspapers across the United States. Loyola won the game and eventually went on to win the national championship that year.[2]

Coaching career

Following the conclusion of his collegiate playing career, Gold turned to coaching. He became the freshman coach at his alma mater and ultimately an assistant to his mentor Babe McCarthy. After McCarthy resigned in 1965, Gold was named head coach at the age of 23. Gold coached the Bulldogs for five years, compiling a record of 51–74 and resigned in 1970.[1]

Gold next coached at Paducah Junior College in Paducah, Kentucky, then took the reins at Mercer in 1973. However, he resigned at the end of his only season there, a successful 16–8 campaign.[3]

Collegiate coaching record

Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Mississippi State (Southeastern Conference) (1965–1970)
1965–66 Mississippi State 14–11 10–6 T-3rd
1966–67 Mississippi State 14–11 8–10 T-5th
1967–68 Mississippi State 9–17 5–13 8th
1968–69 Mississippi State 8–17 6–12 9th
1969–70 Mississippi State 6–18 3–15 10th
Mississippi State: 51–74 (.408) 32–56 (.364)
Mercer (Independent) (1973–1974)
1973–74 Mercer 16–8
Mercer: 16–8 (.667)
Total: 67–82 (.450)

      National champion         Conference regular season champion         Conference tournament champion
      Conference regular season & conference tournament champion       Conference division champion

Post coaching career

After leaving Mercer, Gold became a school administrator in his native Kentucky. He was enshrined in the Mississippi State Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996.

Gold died on April 14, 2011 following a long illness.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b 2010-11 Mississippi State men's basketball media guide, accessed June 11, 2011
  2. ^ a b Joe Dan Gold dies at age 68, accessed June 11, 2011
  3. ^ AP report (August 6, 1974). "Gold resigns at Mercer". Ocala Star-Banner. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=m_4jAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gAUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4591,1148458&dq=joe+dan+gold&hl=en. Retrieved June 11, 2011.