Bruce Drake (December 5, 1905 – December 4, 1983) was an American college men's basketball and golf coach. The Gentry, Texas native was head coach at the

University of Oklahoma The University of Oklahoma (OU) is a Public university, public research university in Norman, Oklahoma, United States. Founded in 1890, it had existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two territories became the ...

between 1938 and 1955, compiling a 200–181 record. He also coached the Air Force team to a 34–14 record in 1956. Prior to coaching, he was also a star for Hugh McDermott's Oklahoma team. He was a 1928–29

Helms Foundation The Helms Athletic Foundation, founded in 1936, was a Los Angeles-based organization dedicated to the promotion of athletics and sportsmanship. Paul H. Helms was the organization's founder and benefactor, funding the foundation via his owner ...

All-America The All-America designation is an annual honor bestowed on outstanding athletes in the United States who are considered to be among the best athletes in their respective sport. Individuals receiving this distinction are typically added to an Al ...

n. He was a multi-sport athlete at Oklahoma. As a coach, Drake led the

Sooners Sooners is the name given to settlers who entered the Unassigned Lands illegally in what is now the state of Oklahoma before the official start of the Land Rush of 1889. The Unassigned Lands were a part of Indian Territory that, after a lobbyi ...

to two

Final Four In sports, the final four is the last four teams remaining in a playoffs, playoff tournament. Usually the final four compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final (penultimate) round. Of these teams, the two who win in ...

s–the first one in 1939, here they lost to Oregon 55–37; the second in 1947, where he lost in the Championship Game to Holy Cross 58–47. He made only one additional NCAA tournament appearance, in 1943. However, he coached at a time when only eight teams made the tournament. He won or shared six ( Big Six/Big Seven conference titles. At the time of his retirement, he was the winningest coach in OU history, but is now third behind Billy Tubbs and Kelvin Sampson. He coached 5 Olympic ( Wayne Glasgow and Marcus Freiberger of

, 1952;

Bill Evans William John Evans (August 16, 1929 – September 15, 1980) was an American Jazz piano, jazz pianist and composer who worked primarily as the leader of his trio. His use of impressionist harmony, block chords, innovative chord voicings, a ...

, Ron Tomsic and Gib Ford of Air Force team, 1956) and three

ns ( Jimmy McNatt, 1940; Gerald Tucker, 1943, 1947; Allie Paine, 1944) Drake was selected as the assistant coach for the 1956 USA Men's Basketball Gold Medal Olympic Team In 1958 he coached the Wichita Vickers in the

National Industrial Basketball League The National Industrial Basketball League was founded in 1947 to enable U.S. mill workers a chance to compete in basketball. The league was founded by the industrial teams (teams sponsored by the large companies and made up of their employees) bel ...

getting 30–21 record tying him for first with his old player Gerald Tucker who was coaching the Bartlesville Phillips 66ers. One of the lasting contributions Drake developed is the shuffle offense. He helped make goaltending illegal. Drake was the Chairman of the NCAA Rules Committee from 1951 to 1955. He made the Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach in 1973.

Head coaching record

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* {{DEFAULTSORT:Drake, Bruce 1905 births 1983 deaths All-American college men's basketball players American men's basketball coaches American men's basketball players Basketball coaches from Texas Basketball players from Texas College men's basketball head coaches in the United States Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductees National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame inductees Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball coaches Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball players Oklahoma Sooners men's golf coaches Oklahoma Sooners men's track and field athletes People from Potter County, Texas Phillips 66ers players

Head coaching record

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References

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