Everett F. Shelton

A dedicated and regimented coach, Everett Shelton instilled those same qualities in his players. In a career that spanned 46 years and over 800 wins, Shelton coached at the high school, college, and AAU levels. His tenure spent at the University of Wyoming from 1939 to 1959 was Shelton’s most prosperous years. In 19 seasons, he won over 300 games including eight Skyline Conference championships. Shelton’s Cowboys became a dominant team with national appeal. In 1943 the Cowboys won the fifth NCAA championship then went on to defeat NIT champion St. Johns to win the mythical national championship. During the 1930s and 1940s, Shelton helped to spread basketball in the west at both the collegiate and AAU levels. Shelton was an innovative bench coach, and in 1932 developed the five-man weave offense. As coach of the AAU Denver Safeways, Shelton coached Hall of Famers Jack McCracken and Bob Gruenig.