Gordon C. Stauffer (May 21, 1930 – September 23, 2019) was an American college basketball coach. He was the head men's basketball coach at Indiana State University; leading their transition from NCAA College Division (now Division II) to Division I and membership in the Midwestern Conference and ultimately the Missouri Valley Conference.

Gordon C. Stauffer
Biographical details
Born(1930-05-21)May 21, 1930
Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S.
DiedSeptember 23, 2019(2019-09-23) (aged 89)
Sanford, Florida, U.S.
Playing career
1948–1952Michigan State
Position(s)Guard
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1959–1962South Carolina (assistant)
1962–1966Oklahoma (assistant)
1966–1967Washburn
1967–1975Indiana State
1975–1979Purdue Fort Wayne
1979–1981Geneva
1981–1990Nicholls State
Head coaching record
Overall299–331
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
NCAA Great Lakes Regional (1968)
Indiana Collegiate Conference (1968)
Central Intercollegiate Conference (1967)
Awards
Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame (2004)

Stauffer also coached at Washburn University, Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW), at Geneva College, and his last college position was at Nicholls State, where he coached the Colonels from 1981 to 1990, again leading the school through a transition period from Division II to Division I.

Playing career

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A Fort Wayne, Indiana South High star, led the Archers to Sectional and Regional titles in his Junior season (1947); he was tabbed 'Honorable Mention All-State' and attended Michigan State on a basketball scholarship. While at Michigan State, he was a member of their first Big Ten Conference team, and was the second-leading scorer in 1952. He lettered three seasons for the Spartans.[1] He was coached by two coaches, most notably Hall-of-Famer Pete Newell.

Stauffer was drafted in the 1952 NBA draft by the Indianapolis Olympians.[2] While he was the first Michigan State player ever picked in an NBA draft,[3] he never played for the Olympians.

Coaching career

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To begin his coaching career, Stauffer moved into the high school coaching ranks in his home state of Indiana, where he coached the Royerton Redbirds from 1955 to 1959. He left Royerton to move into the college coaching ranks at the University of South Carolina, where he assisted Walt Hambrick and Bob Stevens; he then moved to the University of Oklahoma with Bob Stevens as the top assistant.

He got his first head coaching job with Washburn University; after a winning season in his first year, he moved up the ranks to Indiana State. After eight seasons in Terre Haute at Indiana State, he took the head job at Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne. He then spent two seasons at Geneva College, leading them to the NCCAA playoffs in each season. After Geneva College, Stauffer spent nine seasons at Nicholls State before retiring to Florida.[4]

Personal life

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Stauffer died on September 23, 2019, at age 89.[5]

Stauffer was preceded by his son in death. He left behind his two daughters, his wife, and four grandchildren.

Head coaching record

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Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Washburn (Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) (1966–1967)
1966–67 Washburn 15–6 6–2 T–1st
Washburn: 15–6 (.714) 6–2 (.750)
Indiana State (Indiana Collegiate Conference) (1967–1968)
1967–68 Indiana State 23–8 9–3 T–1st NCAA College Division Runner-up
Indiana State (NCAA D-II Independent) (1968–1970)
1968–69 Indiana State 13–13
1969–70 Indiana State 16–10
Indiana State (Midwestern Conference) (1970–1972)
1970–71 Indiana State 17–9 5–3 2nd
1971–72 Indiana State 12–14 4–4 3rd
Indiana State (NCAA D-I Independent) (1972–1975)
1972–73 Indiana State 16–10
1973–74 Indiana State 12–14
1974–75 Indiana State 12–14
Indiana State: 121–90 (.573) 18–10 (.643)
Purdue Fort Wayne (NCAA D-III Independent) (1975–1979)
1975–76 Purdue-Fort Wayne 15–12
1976–77 Purdue-Fort Wayne 8–19
1977–78 Purdue-Fort Wayne 8–16
1978–79 Purdue-Fort Wayne 6–21
Purdue-Fort Wayne: 37–68 (.352)
Geneva (NAIA) (1979–1981)
1979–80 Geneva 15–12 NCCAA
1980–81 Geneva 10–16 NCCAA
Geneva: 25–28 (.472)
Nicholls State (NCAA D-I Independent) (1981–1984)
1981–82 Nicholls State 6–20
Nicholls State (Trans America Athletic Conference) (1982–1984)
1982–83 Nicholls State 16–12 Ineligible for TAAC title
1983–84 Nicholls State 19–7 Ineligible for TAAC title
Nicholls State (Gulf Star Conference) (1984–1987)
1984–85 Nicholls State 17–10 6–4
1985–86 Nicholls State 8–16 2–8
1986–87 Nicholls State 9–18 1–9
Nicholls State (NCAA D-I Independent) (1987–1990)
1987–88 Nicholls State 10–18
1988–89 Nicholls State 12–16
1989–90 Nicholls State 4–23
Nicholls State: 101–140 (.419) 9–21 (.300)
Total: 299–331 (.475)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References

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  1. ^ "Michigan State Basketball Alumni". Spartanstars.home.comcast.net. Archived from the original on 2015-07-21. Retrieved 2015-07-27.
  2. ^ "1952 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference.com. 1952-04-26. Retrieved 2015-07-27.
  3. ^ "Spartans NBA draft picks" (PDF). grfx.cstv.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2015-07-27.
  4. ^ "Gordon Stauffer Coaching Record | College Basketball at". Sports-reference.com. 1930-05-21. Archived from the original on 2015-09-05. Retrieved 2015-07-27.
  5. ^ "Former MBB head coach Gordon Stauffer passes away". Nicholls Colonels. September 27, 2019. Retrieved October 19, 2019.