Lavalius Cyrone Gordon (born 1937) is an American former basketball player and coach.[1] He played college basketball for the Oklahoma State Cowboys from 1958 to 1961, where he was the first African-American to play for the team.[2] Gordon served as the head coach of the Texas Southern Tigers from 1969 to 1973.
Biographical details | |
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Born | 1937 (age 84–85) Abbeville, Mississippi |
Playing career | |
1958–1961 | Oklahoma State |
Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
1966–1969 | Carver HS |
1969–1973 | Texas Southern |
Head coaching record | |
Overall | 63–43 (.594) |
Gordon was born in Abbeville, Mississippi, and was raised in Memphis, Tennessee, where he played basketball at Booker T. Washington High School.[1] The head coach of the Memphis Tigers, Bob Vanatta, told Gordon that Cowboys head coach Henry Iba was prepared to integrate his team and recruited Gordon on behalf of Iba;[3][4] Gordon committed to play for the Cowboys without visiting the university's campus.[4] As a guard, Gordon had considered himself as an offensive player but was converted to become the team's defensive specialist by Iba and assigned to guard the opponents' best scorers.[3] He suffered from the effects of racism and segregation as the only black player on the Cowboys but credited his teammates with helping to embrace him.[1][2][4]
Gordon graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1961 with a bachelor of science degree in secondary education.[5] He earned a master's degree in administration and supervision from the University of Memphis and a master's degree in physical education from Texas Southern University.[5]
Gordon was named head coach of the Texas Southern Tigers in 1969 after serving as the basketball coach at Carver High School the three previous years.[6] He amassed a 63–43 record over four seasons.[7] Gordon resigned as head coach of the Tigers on September 5, 1973.[8]
Gordon was honored by Oklahoma State University as the grand marshal of homecoming in 2013 and is a life member of the OSU Alumni Association.[5] His son, Lavalius Jr., played college football and basketball for the North Texas Mean Green.[9] His grandson, Trent, plays college football for the Arkansas Razorbacks.[10]
Texas Southern Tigers head basketball coaches | |
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