J. Craig Ruby
Biographical details | |
---|---|
Born | Stockport, Iowa, U.S. | May 30, 1896
Died | September 9, 1980 Johnson County, Kansas, U.S. | (aged 84)
Playing career | |
1917–1920 | Missouri |
Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
1920–1922 | Missouri |
1922–1936 | Illinois |
Head coaching record | |
Overall | 181–97 |
Accomplishments and honors | |
Championships | |
2 MVC (1921–1922) 2 Big Ten (1924, 1935) | |
James Craig Ruby (May 30, 1896 – September 9, 1980) was an American
Beginning in 1922 and continuing on for the next 14 years, Ruby compiled a record of 148 wins and 95 losses. While playing in the Big Ten Conference, Ruby's teams recorded 94 wins and 74 losses and won the conference championship 2 times. Ruby left the program in 1936 with coaching duties given to Douglas R. Mills.[2]
Ruby and legendary Kansas coach Phog Allen actively campaigned together for higher baskets to offset the advantage of tall centers. He also advocated the elimination of the dribble to do away with stalling, and wanted the hoop enlarged to 20 inches in diameter rather than the standard 18.[3] In 1930 Ruby served as the president of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC).[4]
Ruby retired from coaching to pursue a career with the Kansas City-based, Hallmark greeting card company at the age of 39. He died in 1980 in Johnson County, Kansas at the age of 84.
Ruby married Dorothy Whitney on August 11, 1924 in Chicago, Illinois. They had a daughter, Joyce, and son, Jay Whitney.
Head coaching record
Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Missouri Tigers (Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association) (1920–1922) | |||||||||
1920–21 | Missouri | 17–1 | 17–1 | 1st | |||||
1921–22 | Missouri | 16–1 | 15–1 | T–1st | |||||
Missouri: | 33–2 (.943) | 32–2 (.941) | |||||||
Illinois Fighting Illini (Big Ten Conference) (1922–1936) | |||||||||
1922–23 | Illinois | 9–6 | 7–5 | T–4th | |||||
1923–24 | Illinois | 11–6 | 8–4 | T–1st | |||||
1924–25 | Illinois | 11–6 | 8–4 | T–3rd | |||||
1925–26 | Illinois | 9–8 | 6–6 | T–5th | |||||
1926–27 | Illinois | 10–7 | 7–5 | T–4th | |||||
1927–28 | Illinois | 5–12 | 2–10 | T–9th | |||||
1928–29 | Illinois | 10–7 | 6–6 | T–5th | |||||
1929–30 | Illinois | 8–8 | 7–5 | T–5th | |||||
1930–31 | Illinois | 12–5 | 7–5 | 5th | |||||
1931–32 | Illinois | 11–6 | 7–5 | 5th | |||||
1932–33 | Illinois | 11–7 | 6–6 | T–5th | |||||
1933–34 | Illinois | 13–6 | 7–5 | 4th | |||||
1934–35 | Illinois | 15–5 | 9–3 | T–1st | |||||
1935–36 | Illinois | 13–6 | 7–5 | T–3rd | |||||
Illinois: | 148–95 (.609) | 94–74 (.560) | |||||||
Total: | 181–97 (.651) | ||||||||
National champion
Postseason invitational champion
|
References
- ISBN 978-0-345-51392-2.
- ISBN 1-58261-793-7
- ^ FIGHTINGILLINI.COM - Men's Basketball Archived June 9, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ NABC Presidents List