Gordon Ridings
Encyclopedia
Gordon Ridings was an American college men's basketball
coach. He served as head coach at Columbia University
from 1946 until 1951 when he suffered a heart attack before the season started, handing over coaching duties to Lou Rossini
. Ridings graduated of University of Oregon
in 1929, where he was a two-time Northern Division All-Conference selection (1928, 1929). Ridings was remembered as one of the first great teachers of defensive basketball. Story has it that Red Auerbach
of the Boston Celtics
often came to Morningside Heights to learn how to coach defense.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
coach. He served as head coach at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
from 1946 until 1951 when he suffered a heart attack before the season started, handing over coaching duties to Lou Rossini
Lou Rossini
Lucio "Lou" Rossini was a college men's basketball coach. He compiled a 357-256 record in almost 20 years of coaching, most notably with New York University...
. Ridings graduated of University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
in 1929, where he was a two-time Northern Division All-Conference selection (1928, 1929). Ridings was remembered as one of the first great teachers of defensive basketball. Story has it that Red Auerbach
Red Auerbach
Arnold Jacob "Red" Auerbach was an American basketball coach of the Washington Capitols, the Tri-Cities Blackhawks and the Boston Celtics. After he retired from coaching, he served as president and front office executive of the Celtics until his death...
of the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
often came to Morningside Heights to learn how to coach defense.