Jim Iverson facts for kids
Iverson receiving a coaching award in 1963.
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 22, 1930 Mitchell, South Dakota |
| Nationality | American |
| Died | October 26, 2020 (aged 90) Fort Wayne, Indiana |
| High school | Platte (Platte, South Dakota) |
| Listed height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Listed weight | 170 lb (77 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Kansas State (1949–1952) |
| NBA Draft | 1952 / Round: 2 / Pick: 17th overall |
| Selected by the Boston Celtics | |
| Coaching career | 1956–1965 |
| Career history | |
| As coach: | |
| 1956–1965 | South Dakota State |
| Career highlights and awards | |
As coach:
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James D. Iverson (born August 22, 1930 – died October 26, 2020) was an American basketball player and a successful coach. He is most famous for leading the South Dakota State Jackrabbits to a national championship in 1963.
Playing Basketball
Jim Iverson was a big star in high school at Platte High School in Platte, South Dakota. He was named the best player in the state three times!
After high school, he played college basketball at Kansas State University (KSU). He was a starting player for three seasons. During his time there, the KSU Wildcats won two Big Seven Conference titles. In 1951, his team even played for the NCAA national championship, but they lost to the Kentucky Wildcats. Jim Iverson also played baseball while he was at KSU.
After finishing his college career, Jim Iverson was chosen by the Boston Celtics in the second round of the 1952 NBA draft. This meant he had a chance to play professional basketball! However, he first served two years in the U.S. Army. After his time in the Army, he joined the Celtics for their practice games in 1954. Even though he was a great player, he was one of the last players cut from the team before the season started.
Becoming a Coach
After his playing days, Iverson coached several sports teams for the military, both in the United States and in Japan. Then, in 1956, he became the head coach for the South Dakota State University (SDSU) basketball team.
Iverson had a lot of success as a coach at SDSU. He led the Jackrabbits to win a North Central Conference title in 1959. His biggest achievement came in 1963 when he led his team to win the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) College Division national title. They won a very close game against Wittenburg, 44–42, with a shot made right at the end of the game! For this amazing win, Iverson was named the NABC College Division Coach of the Year in 1963.
However, Jim Iverson was let go from his coaching job in 1965. This happened because it was found that he had given a player, Maurice White, some extra money ($275). This was against the rules for college athletes at the time.
Jim Iverson passed away on October 26, 2020, when he was 90 years old.
See also
In Spanish: Jim Iverson para niños
