Phog Allen was an American basketball player and coach born on November 18th, 1885. During his basketball career at the University of Kansas, Allen earned varsity letters for three years playing under the legendary basketball coach, James Naismith from 1904-1907. While at KU, Allen was a brother of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.

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After graduating college in 1909, with an Osteopathic Medical degree, Allen began his career aiding injured Kansas student-athletes—earning the one-word nickname “Doc”. The “Doc” became revered within the KU community.

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Finally in 1912, Allen officially began his college basketball coaching career at the University of Central Missouri (formerly Warrensburg Teachers) in Warrensburg Missouri. After finding coaching success in Warrensburg, he was appointed the head coach of The University of Kansas Men’s Basketball team in 1919. Allen coached the beloved Kansas Jayhawks for 37 seasons until retiring at age 71 in 1956. As KU’s head coach, Allen won 590 games with an overall winning percentage of 73.9%. He led the Jayhawks to two Helms national championships, four NCAA final fours, three national championship games, and one NCAA men’s basketball National Tournament Title in 1952. The 50 years of college basketball coaching success earned Forrest “Phog” Allen the prestigious title, “The Father of Coaching Basketball.”