Rupp the Legend
The Adolph Rupp Awards are given each year in honor of Coach Adolph F. Rupp.
Known as “The Baron of the Bluegrass” , Rupp
was one of the greatest to ever coach the game. At .822%, his winning percentage
still ranks the highest of all coaches with
over 500 career wins, and his record of total victories stood for 30 years after his
retirement. Rupp helped transform the game by
forcing opponents across the country to learn how to implement the fast-break, and
by developing new offensive strategies which
are standard in any coach's playbook today.
A Stand Against Segregation
Concerned only with winning, not the color of a man's skin, Rupp led the fight to
integrate the Southeastern Conference. Twice
before the now famous loss to an all-black Texas Western squad in 1966, Rupp
formally petitioned the SEC to allow black players
into the league. Rupp fought for integration even though he had received death
threats for even suggesting that Kentucky should
recruit black players. The University of Kentucky cast the only votes in favor of
integration both times. Finally, after UK's loss to
Texas Western, the conference and its deep south schools were forced to agree to
integrate. Vanderbilt signed Perry Wallace the
next year to become the first black player in the SEC.
The Record
At Kentucky he compiled a record of 879 wins and 190 losses while winning 27 SEC
titles, one NIT Championship and four NCAA
Championships (1948, 1949, 1951 and 1958). 25 of his players were named All-
Americans and 31 played professional basketball.
He was named National Coach of the year four times and SEC Coach of the year
seven times.
"For those of you that have traveled down the glory road with me, my eternal
thanks." - Adolph F. Rupp
The Adolph Rupp Awards are given each year in honor of Coach Adolph F. Rupp.
Known as “The Baron of the Bluegrass” , Rupp
was one of the greatest to ever coach the game. At .822%, his winning percentage
still ranks the highest of all coaches with
over 500 career wins, and his record of total victories stood for 30 years after his
retirement. Rupp helped transform the game by
forcing opponents across the country to learn how to implement the fast-break, and
by developing new offensive strategies which
are standard in any coach's playbook today.
A Stand Against Segregation
Concerned only with winning, not the color of a man's skin, Rupp led the fight to
integrate the Southeastern Conference. Twice
before the now famous loss to an all-black Texas Western squad in 1966, Rupp
formally petitioned the SEC to allow black players
into the league. Rupp fought for integration even though he had received death
threats for even suggesting that Kentucky should
recruit black players. The University of Kentucky cast the only votes in favor of
integration both times. Finally, after UK's loss to
Texas Western, the conference and its deep south schools were forced to agree to
integrate. Vanderbilt signed Perry Wallace the
next year to become the first black player in the SEC.
The Record
At Kentucky he compiled a record of 879 wins and 190 losses while winning 27 SEC
titles, one NIT Championship and four NCAA
Championships (1948, 1949, 1951 and 1958). 25 of his players were named All-
Americans and 31 played professional basketball.
He was named National Coach of the year four times and SEC Coach of the year
seven times.
"For those of you that have traveled down the glory road with me, my eternal
thanks." - Adolph F. Rupp
RUPP
midnight madness the interview the brown suit UK traditionc coach G the fab five UK turns 100 adoplh rupp
