Rupp, Adolph (1901-1977), was one of the top college basketball coaches in the United States. Rupp coached the University of Kentucky basketball team to 876 victories, a college record until it was broken by Dean Smith in 1997. Mike Krzyzewski is the current men’s Division 1 leader with over 1,000 victories. Under Rupp, Kentucky won the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship in 1948, 1949, 1951, and 1958. His Kentucky teams also won 27 Southeastern Conference championships. Rupp became coach at Kentucky in 1930 and retired in 1972. That same year, he became president of the Memphis Tams of the American Basketball Association.
Adolph Frederick Rupp was born in Halstead, Kansas, on Sept. 2, 1901. He played guard on the University of Kansas basketball team from 1921 to 1923. Rupp’s coach at Kansas was Forrest C. (Phog) Allen. Allen ranked as the college coach with the most victories until Rupp broke his record. Rupp died on Dec. 10, 1977.
