University of Minnesota Athletics
John Kundla - M Club Hall of Fame
John Kundla
Men’s Basketball, 1937-39
Basketball Coach, 1959-68
HOF Class of 1991
John Kundla began his Gold Country basketball career as a player leading the Gophers to the 1937 Big Ten Championship.
The speedy guard then turned to coaching, first with St. Thomas, and then, just 31 years old, 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 that included a 70-38 playoff ledger.
Kundla’s Lakers, with future Hall of Famers George Mikan, Vern Mikkelsen, Jim Pollard, Slater Martin, Elgin Baylor and Clyde Lovellette, became professional basketball's first dynasty.
Kundla came back to Minnesota to coach his alma mater in 1959, guiding the Gophers over 10 seasons to a 110-105 overall record.
He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995.