University of Minnesota Athletics
John Kundla
9/6/2007 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
John Kundla |
John Kundla started out his illustrious basketball career in Gold Country by leading the Gophers to the 1937 Big Ten Championship. The speedy guard then got into coaching, first with St. Thomas, and then at the tender age of just 31, with the NBA's Minneapolis Lakers. Kundla led the Lakers to a total of six world championships from 1947-59, compiling a 466-319 record, including a 70-38 playoff record, along the way. The team, behind future Hall of Famers George Mikan, Vern Mikkelsen, Jim Pollard, Slater Martin, Elgin Baylor and Clyde Lovellette were professional basketball's first dynasty. Kundla then came back to coach his alma mater in 1959, guiding the Gophers for the next 10 seasons to a 110-105 overall record. Kundla would later receive the sport's highest honor when he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995.
M Club Hall of Fame
