McLendon, John B.

John B. McLendon, Jr. was born April 5, 1915 at Hiawatha, Kansas. He graduated from Sumner High School in Kansas City, Kansas in 1932. After a year at Kansas City Junior College, he transferred to the University of Kansas at Lawrence, where his passion for coaching was fueled by his advisor and inventor of basketball James Naismith. Although KU's color line prevented McLendon from playing on the varsity team, he acquired knowledge and skills under Dr. Naismith's tutelage. He completed his practicum as a coach at Lawrence Memorial High School.

McLendon received a B.S. from the University of Kansas in 1936-KU's first African American student to obtain a degree in physical education. After earning an M.A. in physical education from the University of Iowa in 1937, he accepted his first college position as assistant basketball coach at North Carolina College (later North Carolina Central University). As its head coach from 1940-1952, McLendon led his team to victory in eight Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) tournaments, winning four consecutive CIAA tournaments (1949-1952). Among the players he coached at North Carolina was Harold Hunter, the first African American athlete to sign with the National Basketball Association (NBA).

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