Ray Hamann
American basketball player and coach
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Raymond Henry Hamann (August 19, 1911 – May 7, 2005) was an American professional basketball player and college coach.[1][2] By playing in the National Basketball League for the Oshkosh All-Stars during the 1937–38 and 1938–39 seasons,[1][3] Hamann became the first South Dakotan to play organized professional basketball.[4] He also competed for the All-Stars when they were a barnstorming independent team.[2]
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 19, 1911 Yankton, South Dakota, U.S. |
| Died | May 7, 2005 (aged 93) Yankton, South Dakota, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Listed weight | 205 lb (93 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Yankton (Yankton, South Dakota) |
| College | Wisconsin (1932–1935) |
| Position | Guard / forward |
| Career history | |
Playing | |
| 1935–1940 | Oshkosh All-Stars |
| 1937–1938 | Kimberly Athletic Association |
| 1940–1941 | Thorpe Gamble All-Stars |
| 1941 | Kimberly Pipe Makers |
Coaching | |
| 1937–1938 | Kimberly HS |
| 19??–19?? | Appleton HS |
| 1942–1945 | Lawrence |
| Career highlights | |
| |
Hamann played college basketball at Wisconsin from 1932–33 to 1934–35 and helped guide the Badgers to a co-conference championship as a senior.[2] During his professional career he coached basketball at Kimberly and Appleton high schools.[4] He served in the Navy during World War II.[2] When he returned, Hamann earned a master's degree from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, while also serving as their head men's basketball coach from 1942–43 to 1944–45.[4][5] Although he compiled a cumulative record of 11 wins and 15 losses, he led the Vikings to a Midwest Conference championship in his first season.[4][6]
Hamann died on May 7, 2005, in his hometown of Yankton, South Dakota.[6]
