John McLendon Hall of Fame NBA

John McLendon was one of the most influential innovators in basketball history and a pioneering coach who helped shape the modern style of play. He is credited with inventing the fast break, the full-court press, and the "four corners" offense. He achieved major success at historically Black colleges, particularly Tennessee A&I State University, where his teams dominated college basketball in the 1950s.

McLendon also made history in professional basketball, becoming the first African American head coach in a major professional league when he coached the Cleveland Pipers in the American Basketball League. In the collegiate ranks, he led Tennessee State to three consecutive NAIA national titles (1957–1959), a feat never before achieved. He holds the unique honor of being the first person inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as both a Contributor (1979) and a Coach (2016).

McLendon's Awards & Records

• 3× NAIA Champion (1957–1959)
• 8× CIAA (1941, 1943–44, 1946–47, 1949–50, 1952)
• 2× CIAA conference (1946, 1950)
• First African American coach in professional sports
• First African American head coach at a predominantly white university
• First coach inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame twice

NBA Teams