B. L. Graham

B. L. Graham
Sport(s) Basketball
Biographical details
Born August 24, 1914
Died October 13, 2001 (aged 87)
Oxford, Mississippi
Playing career
1935–1938 Ole Miss
Position(s) Center
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1939–1949
1949–1962		 Jones County JC
Ole Miss
Head coaching record
Overall 144–168
Accomplishments and honors

Awards

First-team All-American – Helms (1938)
First-team All-SEC (1938)

Bonnie Lee "B. L." Graham (August 24, 1914 – October 13, 2001) was an American college basketball player and coach at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss). Graham was an All-American center at the school in 1938 and was head coach from 1949 to 1962.

"Country" Graham came to Ole Miss from Baldwyn High School, which he led the school to the 1932 Mississippi state title.[1] Graham became Ole Miss' first All-American in basketball in 1938 as he was a first-team pick of the Helms Athletic Foundation squad. He led Ole Miss and the Southeastern Conference in scoring as a senior in 1937–38. He also played football at the school during this time.[2]

After the close of his college athletic career, Graham coached both basketball and football at Jones County Junior College in Ellisville, Mississippi, winning state junior college titles in both sports. In 1949, he was named head coach at his alma mater.[3] He coached 13 seasons, compiling a record of 144–168. His 144 victories were the most in school history until 2013 when Andy Kennedy broke the mark.[4] He also was an assistant football coach for the Rebels from 1952 to 1960.[2]

Graham died on October 13, 2001 in Oxford, Mississippi at the age of 87.[2]

Head coaching record

Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Ole Miss[5] (SEC) (1949–1962)
1949–50 Ole Miss 8–17 4–13 12th
1950–51 Ole Miss 12–12 5–9 10th
1951–52 Ole Miss 15–11 8–6 5th
1952–53 Ole Miss 14–11 5–8 7th
1953–54 Ole Miss 12–12 7–7 6th
1954–55 Ole Miss 8–15 5–9 9th
1955–56 Ole Miss 10–13 4–10 10th
1956–57 Ole Miss 9–12 4–10 10th
1957–58 Ole Miss 12–12 6–8 8th
1958–59 Ole Miss 7–17 1–13 12th
1959–60 Ole Miss 15–9 8–6 4th
1960–61 Ole Miss 10–14 5–9 9th
1961–62 Ole Miss 12–13 5–9 9th
Ole Miss: 144–168 (.462) 67–117 (.364)
Total: 144–168 (.462)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References

  1. ↑ Bobby Pepper (March 10, 1999). "HED:Lee County’s State Champions". Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Ole Miss Basketball Legend Country Graham Passes Away". Ole Miss Rebels. October 14, 2001. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Bonnie Graham new cage coach at Mississippi". St. Petersburg Times. December 11, 1949. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  4. ↑ Seph Anderson (February 23, 2013). "Andy Kennedy Becomes Winningest Ole Miss Basketball Coach". Bleacher Report. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  5. ↑ 2014–15 Ole Miss men's basketball media guide, page 116, accessed December 20, 2014

External links