Bumper Tormohlen
American basketball player and coach
Personal information | |
---|---|
Born |
(
1937-05-12
)
May 12, 1937
Holland, Indiana , U.S. |
Died |
December 27, 2018
(2018-12-27)
(aged
81)
Spring Hill, Tennessee , U.S. |
Nationality | American |
Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
Listed weight | 230 lb (104 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | Holland ( Holland, Indiana ) |
College | Tennessee (1956–1959) |
NBA draft | 1959 : 2nd round, 11th overall pick |
Selected by the Syracuse Nationals | |
Playing career | 1961–1970 |
Position | Power forward / center |
Number | 12, 34 |
Career history | |
As player: | |
1959-1961 | Cleveland Pipers |
1961–1963 | Kansas City Steers |
1963 – 1970 | St. Louis / Atlanta Hawks |
As coach: | |
1976 | Atlanta Hawks |
Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
Career NBA statistics | |
Points | 1,191 (4.4 ppg) |
Rebounds | 1,122 (4.1 rpg) |
Assists | 257 (0.9 apg) |
Stats
![]() |
|
Stats
![]() |
|
Eugene R. "Bumper" Tormohlen (May 12, 1937 – December 27, 2018) was an American professional basketball player and coach. He was born and raised in Holland, Indiana ; he attended Holland High and helped lead the Dutchmen to an IHSAA Sectional in 1953.
He was recruited to the University of Tennessee by former Purdue star Emmett Lowery . During his time in Knoxville, Bumper became a 3-year starter, set the Tennessee career rebounding record (1,113 rebounds ), a 16.9 rpg rate; was twice named All-SEC and was named to Converse 's All-American team and become known to scores of Vols fans as the "Chairman of the Boards."
After a splendid college career at the University of Tennessee , Tormohlen was selected with the fifth pick in the second round of the 1959 NBA draft by the Syracuse Nationals . However, his first years as a pro were spent in the NIBL with the Cleveland Pipers before being traded to the Kansas City Steers in the fledgling American Basketball League . After two seasons in that league, he moved to the NBA, joining the St. Louis Hawks ) in 1962. His entire NBA playing career was with the Hawks; five seasons in St. Louis and one season in Atlanta. He retired as an NBA player in 1970, having spent the 1968-68 & 1969-70 seasons as a player-coach for the Hawks. He was a member of the 1970 Western Division champions during his final season in uniform.
He remained with the Hawks, becoming an assistant coach for four seasons. With the Hawks at 28 – 46 and mired in a ten-game losing streak, he was promoted to replace Cotton Fitzsimmons on an interim basis on March 30, 1976. [1] The next season, the team hired Hubie Brown as their full-time head coach. He spent several seasons as the Director of College Scouting for the Los Angeles Lakers .
Tormohlen died on December 27, 2018, at age 81. [2]
References
- ↑ "Cotton pickin'," The Associated Press (AP), Wednesday, March 31, 1976. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
- ↑ "Tennessee Basketball Great Gene Tormohlen Passes Away" . wtlv.tv . December 31, 2018. Archived from the original on April 11, 2019 . Retrieved January 1, 2019 .
External links
- BasketballReference: Gene Tormohlen (as player)
- Gene Tormohlen (as coach)
- Gene Tormohlen Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame profile
- Gene Tormohlen SEC Legends
# denotes interim head coach |
Territorial pick | |
---|---|
First round | |
Second round |