Interview with Adolph Rupp,

Interview Summary

The interview begins with Adolph Rupp describing his illness and treatment. He goes on to recap the tournament history of his first basketball teams at the University of Kentucky, going on to describe how the Southeastern Conference decided that basketball could be a good resource for income. Rupp discusses his personal favorite defense formation in basketball, weighing the pros and cons of both a 1-3-1 and a 2-3. He explains his offensive strategy and how he developed the ideas from the Original Celtics team. Rupp mentions the best pivot men he has had at the University of Kentucky, including Dan Issel, Cliff Hagan, Bob Burrow, and Alex Groza. Rupp details the troubles he's had with recruiting, mentioning Kelly Coleman, Jackie Moreland, John Schroeder, Wesley Unseld, Alfred "Butch" Beard, Jim Rose, Jim McDaniels, and Bill Hosket. Rupp talks of his fears of getting caught up in a recruiting scandal as he neared becoming the president of the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Rupp refutes the idea that you have to cheat to win, mentioning Coach Fred Taylor of Ohio State as an example. Rupp finishes the interview by talking about the referees and differences between conference referees, and the differences in what are consider fouls between conferences.

Interview Keyword

Adolph Rupp basketball

Interview LC Subject

Basketball--Coaches--Biography Basketball--History Rupp, Adolph, 1901-1977 Rupp, Adolph, 1901-1977--Interviews Universities and colleges--Kentucky--Lexington University of Kentucky--Basketball University of Kentucky--Basketball--History University of Kentucky--Sports--History

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections and Digital Programs, University of Kentucky Libraries.