Jim Iverson

James D. Iverson (August 22, 1930[1] – October 26, 2020) was an American basketball player and coach. After a college career at Kansas State (KSU), he was drafted by the Boston Celtics in the second round of the 1952 NBA draft. Iverson later coached South Dakota State University from 1956 to 1965, winning the 1963 NCAA College Division Tournament.

Jim Iverson
Iverson receiving a coaching award in 1963.
Personal information
Born(1930-08-22)August 22, 1930
Mitchell, South Dakota
DiedOctober 26, 2020(2020-10-26) (aged 90)
Fort Wayne, Indiana
NationalityAmerican
Listed height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Listed weight170 lb (77 kg)
Career information
High schoolPlatte (Platte, South Dakota)
CollegeKansas State (1949–1952)
NBA draft1952 / Round: 2 / Pick: 17th overall
Selected by the Boston Celtics
PositionGuard
Coaching career1956–1965
Career history
As coach:
1956–1965South Dakota State
Career highlights and awards
As coach:
Career coaching record
College142–65 (.686)

Iverson was a high school star at Platte High School in Platte, South Dakota, where he was named all-state three times.[2] He played college basketball at Kansas State, where he started three seasons for coach Jack Gardner. In his three seasons there, the Wildcats won two Big Seven Conference titles and in 1951 played for the NCAA title, losing to the Kentucky Wildcats. Iverson also played baseball at KSU.[2]

Following the close of his Kansas State career, Iverson was drafted in the second round of the 1952 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics. He served two years in the U. S. Army, then joined the Celtics for the 1954–55 preseason.[3] However, he was one of the final cuts for the team.[4]

After his playing career, Iverson coached several service teams in the United States and Japan before earning the head coaching position at South Dakota State (SDSU) in 1956.[5] Iverson had success at SDSU, winning a North Central Conference title in 1959, then leading the Jackrabbits to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) College Division title in 1963, defeating Wittenburg 44–42 on a last-second shot.[6] Iverson was ultimately fired in 1965 for providing excessive aid to student athletes, when it came to light that he had given player Maurice White $275.[7]

Iverson died on October 26, 2020 at the age of 90.[8][9]

Head coaching record
Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
South Dakota State Jackrabbits[10] (North Central Conference) (1956–1965)
1956–57 South Dakota State 19–311–1T–1st
1957–58 South Dakota State 12–119–32nd
1958–59 South Dakota State 17–711–11st
1959–60 South Dakota State 17–710–21st
1960–61 South Dakota State 21–610–21stNCAA College Division Final Four
1961–62 South Dakota State 13–97–53rd
1962–63 South Dakota State 22–511–11stNCAA College Division Champion
1963–64 South Dakota State 14–79–32nd
1964–65 South Dakota State 7–102–4T–4th
South Dakota State: 142–65 (.686)80–22 (.784)
Total:142–65 (.686)

      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
  1. "Birthdays: Jim Iverson". Argus Leader. August 15, 2015. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  2. "Jim Iverson named South Dakota State basketball mentor". Argus Leader. March 27, 1956. p. 13. Retrieved November 13, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Iverson signs with pro Boston Celtics". The Manhattan Republic. August 25, 1954. p. 2. Retrieved November 13, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Celtics release Iverson". The Newport Daily News. October 19, 1954. p. 13. Retrieved November 13, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "More coaching changes; Wesleyan to play Air Force". The Salina Journal. March 29, 1956. p. 16. Retrieved November 13, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Bostic's bucket brings NCAA crown". Argus Leader. March 16, 1963. p. 5. Retrieved November 13, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Iverson says other Jacks were given minor help". Sioux City Journal. February 14, 1965. p. 39. Retrieved November 13, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. Jim Iverson of Fort Wayne, Indiana
  9. Black, Ryan (November 1, 2020). "Jim Iverson, starting guard on Kansas State's 1951 Final Four team, dies at 90". Manhattan Mercury. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  10. "2017–18 South Dakota State Jackrabbits men's basketball media guide, pages 48–49" (PDF). South Dakota State Jackrabbits. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
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