Hall of Fame Professional Basketball Coach, College Basketball Coach. He will be remembered for guiding the Minneapolis Lakers to five championships of which include four NBA Titles (1950 and 1952 to 1954). Born John Albert Kundla, in the small mining town of Star Junction, Pennsylvania, he was raised in Minnesota, where he attended Minneapolis Central High School. He enrolled at the University of Minnesota and while with the Golden Gophers' basketball squad, he contributed to Minnesota's clinching of the Big Ten Championship in 1937. After graduation, he stayed on at Minnesota and served as an assistant to basketball coach Dave MacMillan. He went on to coach at the high school level and following service with the United States Navy during World War II, he returned home and became basketball coach at the College of St. Thomas. In 1947 at the age of thirty-one, he was named the first head coach of the newly-formed Minneapolis Lakers' franchise in the National Basketball League (1947 to 1948). In 1948, the Lakers moved to the Basketball Association of America and would go on to win the league's title (1949). After the Lakers joined the newly-established National Basketball Association, his teams captured four out of the first five league titles. Among the players he coached during his tenure with the Lakers include George Mikan, Jim Pollard, Vern Mikkelsen and Clyde Lovellette. He produced a regular season BAA and NBA professional record of 423 wins and 302 losses. After leaving the Lakers in 1959, Kundla returned to the University of Minnesota, where he served as head coach of their basketball team until his retirement in 1968. He was inducted into the University of Minnesota M Club Hall of Fame in 1991 and was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995.
Hall of Fame Professional Basketball Coach, College Basketball Coach. He will be remembered for guiding the Minneapolis Lakers to five championships of which include four NBA Titles (1950 and 1952 to 1954). Born John Albert Kundla, in the small mining town of Star Junction, Pennsylvania, he was raised in Minnesota, where he attended Minneapolis Central High School. He enrolled at the University of Minnesota and while with the Golden Gophers' basketball squad, he contributed to Minnesota's clinching of the Big Ten Championship in 1937. After graduation, he stayed on at Minnesota and served as an assistant to basketball coach Dave MacMillan. He went on to coach at the high school level and following service with the United States Navy during World War II, he returned home and became basketball coach at the College of St. Thomas. In 1947 at the age of thirty-one, he was named the first head coach of the newly-formed Minneapolis Lakers' franchise in the National Basketball League (1947 to 1948). In 1948, the Lakers moved to the Basketball Association of America and would go on to win the league's title (1949). After the Lakers joined the newly-established National Basketball Association, his teams captured four out of the first five league titles. Among the players he coached during his tenure with the Lakers include George Mikan, Jim Pollard, Vern Mikkelsen and Clyde Lovellette. He produced a regular season BAA and NBA professional record of 423 wins and 302 losses. After leaving the Lakers in 1959, Kundla returned to the University of Minnesota, where he served as head coach of their basketball team until his retirement in 1968. He was inducted into the University of Minnesota M Club Hall of Fame in 1991 and was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995.
Bio by: C.S.
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