Ken Loeffler
| Sport(s) | Basketball |
|---|---|
| Biographical details | |
| Born | April 14, 1902 |
| Died | January 1, 1975 (aged 72) |
| Playing career | |
| 1920–1924 | Penn State |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1928–1934 | Geneva |
| 1935–1942 | Yale |
| 1945–1946 | Denver |
| 1946–1948 | St. Louis Bombers |
| 1948–1949 | Providence Steamrollers |
| 1949-1955 | La Salle |
| 1955-1957 | Texas A&M |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | College 370–213 (.635) Professional 79–90 (.467) |
| Tournaments | NCAA: 9-1 (.900) NIT: 5-3 (.625) NBA Playoffs: 4-6 (.400) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
|
NCAA champion (1954) 2× NCAA Final Four (1954, 1955) NIT champion (1952) |
|
|
Basketball Hall of Fame Inducted in 1964 (profile) |
|
|
College Basketball Hall of Fame Inducted in 2006 |
|
Kenneth D. Loeffler (April 14, 1902 – January 1, 1975) was an American collegiate and professional basketball coach. He was mostly known for guiding the La Salle University men's basketball team to the 1954 NCAA championship and the 1952 National Invitation Tournament championship.
After earning a Bachelor's degree at Pennsylvania State University (1920–24) and a short pro basketball career (1924–29), the Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania native began his collegiate coaching career at Geneva College (1928–34). In 1934 he became basketball head coach at Yale University, and also assistant coach to the football and baseball varsity. In seven years at Yale Loeffler put up a 61-82 record. During World War II he served in the U.S. Air Force.
After the war Loeffler began coaching pro teams in the Basketball Association of America. First the St. Louis Bombers (1946–48), then the Providence Steamrollers (1948–49). In 1949 he returned to the college ranks when he became head coach at La Salle. With players like future Hall of Fameer Tom Gola, Loeffler's La Salle teams went on to dominate college basketball over half a decade in the early 1950s. In six seasons at La Salle, Loeffler led the Explorers to a post-season appearance in every single season. Under Loeffler, La Salle made four trips to the NIT (before it was considered "second-rate") and two visits to the NCAA Tournament. In 1955 Loeffler moved on to become the head coach at Texas A&M College, a post he held until 1957.
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