Bruce Drake

As coach of the University of Oklahoma for 17 seasons, the masterful Bruce Drake, noted for his ingenious offenses, his demanding schedules, and his support for the small player in basketball, led Oklahoma to six Big Six titles. Drake’s teams employed clever passing and a ball-control weaving offense known as the Drake shuffle, a strategy that was designed to give smaller teams a chance against taller and stronger opponents. With a team referred to as the “Roundball Runts,” Drake always led his undersized Sooners to winning seasons. Five of his players became Olympians, while three others earned All-America status. Drake led Oklahoma to three NCAA appearances and two NCAA Final Fours. Drake conducted basketball clinics all over the world and was a leading critic of goaltending. In 1944 he led a national effort that resulted in the banning of goaltending. He chaired the NCAA Rules Committee for five years.