Athletes - Howard Hobson

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	Athletes - Howard Hobson

Howard A. "Hobby" Hobson (July 4, 1903 – June 9, 1991) was a influential college basketball coach, who has authored many books on the subject. He also has the distinction of coaching the first team to win the NCAA Championship, which took place in 1939, its inaugural year.

Biography

Howard Hobson played basketball all four years at Franklin High School, where he graduated in 1922. During his time at Franklin High School, Hobson was team captain for two years. His team won the state championship in 1921.

Hobson graduated from the University of Oregon in 1926 with a bachelors degree. Hobson was team captain of the basketball team from 1924-1926. In 1925, his team tied Oregon State for the conference title, but lost in the playoffs. In 1926, his team won the conference title, but lost to the University of California in the playoffs. This 1926 team was also undefeated in the conference (10-0).

He obtained both a masters degree in 1929 and a doctorate degree in 1945 at Columbia University.

Hobson began his coaching career as the basketball coach for Kelso High School 1928. He would remain there until 1928. The 1928 team earned the league championship. He next coached Benson High School from 1930-1932. The 1932 team earned the league championship.

Hobson began his college coaching career in 1932 at Southern Oregon. As coach, he led Southern Oregon to three league championships (1933-1935).

Hobson next traveled to the University of Oregon, where he would lead the University of Oregon Ducks to the first ever NCAA title (1939) and to three Pacific Coast Conference titles (1937-1939). His 1939 team was known as the "Tall Firs" because of their size. The players on that team averaged about 6". This height was considered very tall for the period. Hobson coached at the University of Oregon from 1935-1947. From 1947-1956, he coached the basketball team at Yale University. His Yale teams won or shared five Big Three crowns (1948, 1949, 1951, 1953, 1956). The 1949 Yale team was the first NCAA entry in the school's history and won the Eastern Intercollegiate League title for the first time in 16 years.

His 27-year overall record as a coach was 495-291.

Howard Hobson was the first coach to win championships on major college level on both coasts. He also pioneered intersectional play at Oregon, making the Ducks the first Western team to travel East for games. He would repeat this type of intersectional play at Yale where the 1948-49 team was the first Yale team to appear on the Pacific Coast.

Hobson was the 1947 NABC (National Association of Basketball Coaches) President. For 12 years, he was also a member of the U.S. Olympic Basketball Committee. He served four years as a member and treasurer of the National Basketball Rules Committee.

Hobson also conducted basketball clinics in the U.S. and in 15 foreign countries.

On October 13, 1965 Howard Hobson was enshrined as a coach in the Basketball Hall of Fame.

He is also enshrined in Portland High School, Helms Foundation, Oregon State and Portland Metro Halls of Fame

He was present at the 50th Anniversary celebration of the founding of the NCAA Tournament in 1988.

Howard Hobson died on June 9, 1991.

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