Jump to content

Guy R. Strong

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Guy Strong)

Guy R. Strong
Biographical details
Born(1930-06-15)June 15, 1930
Irvine, Kentucky, U.S.
DiedMay 19, 2024(2024-05-19) (aged 93)
Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
Alma materEastern Kentucky University
Playing career
1949–1951Kentucky
1952–1955Eastern Kentucky
Position(s)Guard
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1963–1967Kentucky Wesleyan
1967–1973Eastern Kentucky
1973–1977Oklahoma State
1983–1990George Rogers Clark HS
1995–2001George Rogers Clark HS
Head coaching record
Overall186–165 (college)
Tournaments10–2 (NCAA College Division)
0–1 (NCAA University Division)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
NCAA College Division champion (1966)
OVC regular season champion (1972)
Awards
OVC Coach of the Year (1972)
Inducted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame (2002)

Guy R. Strong (June 15, 1930 – May 19, 2024) was an American college basketball player and coach. He played as a guard for both the University of Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky University basketball teams. Strong later served as head coach at several institutions, most notably leading Kentucky Wesleyan to a national championship in the 1966 NCAA College Division Tournament. Over his college coaching career, he compiled a record of 186–165 and also held coaching roles at Eastern Kentucky University and Oklahoma State University.

Strong also coached at the high school level, including two stints at George Rogers Clark High School in Winchester, Kentucky. In recognition of his contributions to basketball in the state, he was inducted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002.

Early life

[edit]

Strong was born in Irvine, Kentucky, on June 15, 1930.[1] He graduated from Irvine High School in Estill County, Kentucky, in 1948.[2]

Career

[edit]

After enrolling at the University of Kentucky, Strong was one of five players—alongside Bill Spivey—who made the final roster following a two-day tryout session. He played for two seasons with the Wildcats, including as a member of the 1951 national championship team. Following his third year, he served in the Korean War, and subsequently transferred to Eastern Kentucky University to complete his collegiate playing career.

As a coach at both the high school and collegiate levels, Strong compiled a combined record of 541–355. He became the first coach to win a national championship at Kentucky Wesleyan College, initiating a legacy that would see the school win seven additional titles—the most in NCAA Division II men's basketball history.[1]

Strong died in Lexington, Kentucky, on May 19, 2024, at the age of 93.[3]

Head coaching record

[edit]

College

[edit]
Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers (NCAA College Division independent) (1963–1967)
1963–64 Kentucky Wesleyan 15–8 NCAA College Division Regional Third Place
1964–65 Kentucky Wesleyan 9–12
1965–66 Kentucky Wesleyan 24–6 NCAA College Division Champion
1966–67 Kentucky Wesleyan 25–4 NCAA College Division Third Place
Kentucky Wesleyan: 73–30
Eastern Kentucky (Ohio Valley Conference) (1967–1973)
1967–68 Eastern Kentucky 10–14 6–8 6th
1968–69 Eastern Kentucky 13–9 7–7 4th
1969–70 Eastern Kentucky 12–10 8–6 T–3rd
1970–71 Eastern Kentucky 16–8 10–4 T–2nd
1971–72 Eastern Kentucky 15–11 9–5 T–1st NCAA University Division First Round
1972–73 Eastern Kentucky 12–13 7–7 T–4th
Eastern Kentucky: 78–65 47–37
Oklahoma State Cowboys (Big Eight Conference) (1973–1977)
1973–74 Oklahoma State 9–17 3–11 7th
1974–75 Oklahoma State 10–16 5–9 6th
1975–76 Oklahoma State 10–16 4–10 6th
1976–77 Oklahoma State 6–21 4–10 7th
Oklahoma State: 35–70 16–40
Total: 186–165

      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

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "UK Career Statistics for Guy Strong". Big Blue History.
  2. ^ "Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame". Archived from the original on August 24, 2007. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
  3. ^ "Legendary coach, former UK player dies". WKYT. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Guy_R._Strong&oldid=1291822176"