B. L. Graham
 Graham in 1952 | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 24, 1914 |
| Died | October 13, 2001 (aged 87) Oxford, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1935–1938 | Ole Miss |
| Position(s) | Jones County JC |
| 1949–1962 | Ole Miss |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 144–168 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Awards | |
| First-team All-American – Helms (1938) First-team All-SEC (1938) | |
Bonnie Lee Graham (August 24, 1914 – October 13, 2001) was an American college basketball player and coach at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss). Graham was an All-American center at the school in 1938 and was head coach from 1949 to 1962.
"Country" Graham came to Ole Miss from Baldwyn High School, which he led the school to the 1932 Mississippi state title.[1] Graham became Ole Miss' first All-American in basketball in 1938 as he was a first-team pick of the Helms Athletic Foundation squad. He pioneered the one-handed hook shot, which was known as ‘Country’s Fade-Away” and using this signature move went on to lead Ole Miss and the Southeastern Conference in scoring as a senior in 1937–38. He also played football at the school during this time.[2]
After the close of his college athletic career, Graham coached both basketball and football at
Graham died on October 13, 2001, in Oxford, Mississippi, at the age of 87.[2]
Head coaching record
| Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ole Miss Rebels[5] (Southeastern Conference) (1949–1962) | |||||||||
| 1949–50 | Ole Miss | 8–17 | 4–13 | 12th | |||||
| 1950–51 | Ole Miss | 12–12 | 5–9 | 10th | |||||
| 1951–52 | Ole Miss | 15–11 | 8–6 | 5th | |||||
| 1952–53 | Ole Miss | 14–11 | 5–8 | 7th | |||||
| 1953–54 | Ole Miss | 12–12 | 7–7 | 6th | |||||
| 1954–55 | Ole Miss | 8–15 | 5–9 | 9th | |||||
| 1955–56 | Ole Miss | 10–13 | 4–10 | 10th | |||||
| 1956–57 | Ole Miss | 9–12 | 4–10 | 10th | |||||
| 1957–58 | Ole Miss | 12–12 | 6–8 | 8th | |||||
| 1958–59 | Ole Miss | 7–17 | 1–13 | 12th | |||||
| 1959–60 | Ole Miss | 15–9 | 8–6 | 4th | |||||
| 1960–61 | Ole Miss | 10–14 | 5–9 | 9th | |||||
| 1961–62 | Ole Miss | 12–13 | 5–9 | 9th | |||||
| Ole Miss: | 144–168 (.462) | 67–117 (.364) | |||||||
| Total: | 144–168 (.462) | ||||||||
References
- ^ Bobby Pepper (March 10, 1999). "HED:Lee County's State Champions". Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
- ^ a b c "Ole Miss Basketball Legend Country Graham Passes Away". Ole Miss Rebels. October 14, 2001. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
- St. Petersburg Times. December 11, 1949. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
- ^ Seph Anderson (February 23, 2013). "Andy Kennedy Becomes Winningest Ole Miss Basketball Coach". Bleacher Report. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
- ^ 15/misc_non_event/Records.pdf 2014–15 Ole Miss men's basketball media guide, page 116, accessed December 20, 2014