Johnny Orr (basketball, born 1927)
Orr from 1975 Michiganensian
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| Sport(s) | Basketball |
|---|---|
| Biographical details | |
| Born | June 10, 1927 |
| Died | December 30, 2013 (aged 86) Des Moines, Iowa |
| Playing career | |
| 1944–1945 | Illinois |
| 1946–1949 | Beloit |
| 1949–1950 | St. Louis Bombers |
| 1949–1950 | Waterloo Hawks |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1951–1959 | Dubuque HS |
| 1959–1963 | Wisconsin (assistant) |
| 1963–1966 | UMass |
| 1967–1968 | Michigan (assistant) |
| 1968–1980 | Michigan |
| 1980–1994 | Iowa State |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 466–346 (college) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Awards | |
| Big Ten Coach of the Year (1974) National Coach of the Year (1976) 100 Legends of the IHSA Boys Basketball Tournament (2007) |
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John Michael "Johnny" Orr (June 10, 1927 – December 30, 2013) was an American basketball player and coach, best known as the head coach of men's basketball at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, University of Michigan, and at Iowa State University.
Orr was born in Taylorville, Illinois or Yale, Kansas and grew up in Taylorville during the Great Depression. Orr attended Taylorville High School under coach Dolph Stanley and in his senior year (1944) led the Tornadoes to a state championship and a 45–0 record, the first team to ever finish a season undefeated in the Illinois High School Association's history. In 2007, Orr was voted one of the "100 Legends of the IHSA Boys Basketball Tournament," recognizing his superior performance in his appearance in the tournament. After high school Orr went to the University of Illinois and was the youngest freshman to compete in three sports. After joining the United States Navy for the end of World War II, Orr returned to the college game at Beloit College. This reunited him with his high school coach Dolph Stanley, who had come to Beloit College as athletic director, head basketball and football coach.
Orr was initially drafted in 1948 BAA draft by the Minneapolis Lakers of the Basketball Association of America, the precursor to the NBA. Orr did not play for the Lakers, and was again drafted the next year in the 2nd round by the St. Louis Bombers. In 1950, Orr played 21 games for the Bombers before moving to the Waterloo Hawks for 13 more games.
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