Ken Loeffler

Ken Loeffler

Sport(s)	Basketball
Biographical details
Born	(1902-04-14)April 14, 1902
Died
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 (BAA)
1948–1949	Providence Steamrollers (NBA)
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) 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.

On October 1, 1964, he was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Head coaching record

College basketball

Season	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Postseason
Geneva Covenanters (Independent) (1928–1934)
1928–1929	Geneva	14-5
1929–1930	Geneva	10-9
1930–1931	Geneva	13-10
1931–1932	Geneva	14-7
1932–1933	Geneva	13-6
1933–1934	Geneva	13-9
Geneva:		93–53 (.637)
Yale Bulldogs (Eastern Intercollegiate Basketball League) (1935–1942)
1935–1936	Yale	8-16	6-6	T-3rd
1936–1937	Yale	12-8	7-5	T-3rd
1937–1938	Yale	7-12	3-9	7th
1938–1939	Yale	4-16	3-9	6th
1939–1940	Yale	13-6	7-5	T-3rd
1940–1941	Yale	10-12	4-8	T-4th
1941–1942	Yale	7-12	3-9	6th
Yale:		61–82 (.427)	33–51 (.393)
Denver Pioneers (Mountain States Conference) (1945–1946)
1945–1946	Denver	9-15	1-11	7th
Denver:		9–15 (.375)	1–11 (.083)
La Salle Explorers (Independent) (1949–1955)
1949–1950	La Salle	21-4			NIT Quarterfinals
1950–1951	La Salle	22-7			NIT First Round
1951–1952	La Salle	24-5			NIT Champions
1952–1953	La Salle	25-3			NIT Quarterfinals
1953–1954	La Salle	26-4			NCAA Champions
1954–1955	La Salle	26-5			NCAA Runner-up
La Salle:		144–28 (.837)
Texas A&M Aggies (Southwest Conference) (1955–1957)
1955–1956	Texas A&M	6-18	3-9	T-5th
1956–1957	Texas A&M	7-17	3-9	T-6th
Texas A&M:		13–35 (.271)	6–18 (.250)
Total:		370–213 (.635)
National champion         Postseason invitational champion         Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion       Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion       Conference tournament champion

Professional basketball

Legend
Regular season	G	Games coached	W	Games won	L	Games lost	W–L %	Win-loss %
Post season	PG	Playoff games	PW	Playoff wins	PL	Playoff losses	PW–L %	Playoff win-loss %

Team	Year	G	W	L	W–L%	Finish	PG	PW	PL	PW–L%	Result
SLB	1946–47	61	38	23	.623	2nd in Western	3	1	2	.333	Lost in League Quarterfinals
SLB	1947–48	48	29	19	.604	1st in Western	7	3	4	.429	Lost in League Semifinals
PRO	1948–49	60	12	48	.200	6th in Eastern	-	-	-	-	Missed Playoffs
Career		169	79	90	.467		10	4	6	.400