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Jim Iverson
Jim Iverson.jpg
Iverson receiving a coaching award in 1963.
Personal information
Born (1930-08-22)August 22, 1930
Mitchell, South Dakota
Nationality American
Died October 26, 2020(2020-10-26) (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:
  • NCAA College Division champion (1963)
  • 5× NCC champion (1957, 1959–1961, 1963)
  • NABC College Division Coach of the Year (1963)

James D. Iverson (August 22, 1930 – October 26, 2020) was an American basketball player and coach.

Career

After a college career at Kansas State (KSU), he was drafted by the Boston Celtics in the second round of the 1952 NBA draft. Iverson later coached South Dakota State University from 1956 to 1965, winning the 1963 NCAA College Division Tournament.

Iverson was a high school star at Platte High School in Platte, South Dakota, where he was named all-state three times. He played college basketball at Kansas State, where he started three seasons for coach Jack Gardner. In his three seasons there, the Wildcats won two Big Seven Conference titles and in 1951 played for the NCAA title, losing to the Kentucky Wildcats. Iverson also played baseball at KSU.

Following the close of his Kansas State career, Iverson was drafted in the second round of the 1952 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics. He served two years in the U. S. Army, then joined the Celtics for the 1954–55 preseason. However, he was one of the final cuts for the team.

After his playing career, Iverson coached several service teams in the United States and Japan before earning the head coaching position at South Dakota State (SDSU) in 1956. Iverson had success at SDSU, winning a North Central Conference title in 1959, then leading the Jackrabbits to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) College Division title in 1963, defeating Wittenburg 44–42 on a last-second shot. Iverson was ultimately fired in 1965 for providing excessive aid to student athletes, when it came to light that he had given player Maurice White $275.

Iverson died on October 26, 2020 at the age of 90.

Head coaching record

Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
South Dakota State Jackrabbits (North Central Conference) (1956–1965)
1956–57 South Dakota State 19–3 11–1 T–1st
1957–58 South Dakota State 12–11 9–3 2nd
1958–59 South Dakota State 17–7 11–1 1st
1959–60 South Dakota State 17–7 10–2 1st
1960–61 South Dakota State 21–6 10–2 1st NCAA College Division Final Four
1961–62 South Dakota State 13–9 7–5 3rd
1962–63 South Dakota State 22–5 11–1 1st NCAA College Division Champion
1963–64 South Dakota State 14–7 9–3 2nd
1964–65 South Dakota State 7–10 2–4 T–4th
South Dakota State: 142–65 (.686) 80–22 (.784)
Total: 142–65 (.686)

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

See also

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