Interview with Adolph Rupp,

Interview Summary

Adolph Rupp talks about playing high school basketball in his hometown of Halstead, Kansas, the loose organization and lack of coaching prevalent until leagues were formed, and the style of play employed in those days. He discusses the almost complete lack of recruiting for college teams, general tryouts for the University of Kansas team, playing under Coach Phog Allen, and a focus on fundamentals that was often a detriment to the game itself. Rupp then discusses at length the zone defense practiced at Kansas, and his study of Walter Meanwell's style which led him to bring the man-to-man defense to Kentucky. He talks about his nickname "The Man in the Brown Suit" and relates some of the many superstitions he had as a coach. The interview concludes with Rupp's memories of society and culture in Kentucky when he first came to Lexington in 1930, including horse racing, fishing, and movies.

Interview Keyword

Adolph Rupp basketball

Interview LC Subject

Basketball--Coaches--Biography Boyd County (Ky.) Horse racing Lexington (Ky.). Meanwell, Walter E. (Walter Earnest), b. 1879 Rupp, Adolph, 1901-1977 Rupp, Adolph, 1901-1977--Interviews Universities and colleges--Kentucky--Lexington University of Kansas--Basketball 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.