Gordon White (basketball)

Gordon S. White was a college football and basketball coach at Roanoke College and Gonzaga University. A former college football player at Roanoke, and Marine in World War I, White returned to Roanoke as an assistant coach in 1927.[1] He succeeded Pinky Spruhan as head basketball coach of the Roanoke Maroons in 1930, and athletic director in 1931.[2] White also became the head football coach for Roanoke. In 1938, his football team narrowly lost the Virginia state championship to the Virginia Military Institute.[1]

White coached basketball at Roanoke for 12 seasons, with an overall record of 116–67,[2] and became affectionately known as "Pop" or "Pap.".[3] His two best seasons were 1937–38 and 1938–39, during which he led his team, called the "Five Smart Boys", to consecutive state titles. Roanoke finished the 1937–38 season 19–2, and the next season 21–3. In 1939, Roanoke's record gained it an appearance in the 1939 National Invitation Tournament (NIT) at Madison Square Garden,[4] although it lost in the first round to St. John's. In 1942 White left Roanoke to serve in World War II, and was succeeded as coach by Joseph S. "Buddy" Hackman.[3]

After being discharged as a Major in 1945, he was named basketball coach and assistant athletic director for the Gonzaga University men's basketball team for the 1945–46 season.[1] During his season at Gonzaga, White acquired a record of 6–14 (.300).[5] In 1946, Claude McGrath, who had been head coach from 1933 to 1942, returned from military service and resumed the head coaching position.

References
  1. "Gordon White New Basketball Coach at Gonzaga University". Spokane Daily Chronicle. October 27, 1945. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  2. Roanoke College Athletics - Maroon Club
  3. "100 Years of Roanoke College Hoops". Archived from the original on 2013-01-31. Retrieved 2013-04-12.
  4. Greatness dots a rich tradition at Roanoke College
  5. "Gonzaga Basketball History - Page 51 of 62". Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-05-19. Retrieved 2010-06-19.
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