Gene Englund
Encyclopedia
Gene E. Englund was an American
professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association
(NBA) for one season, , and split the season playing for the Boston Celtics
and Tri-Cities Blackhawks
. Although he played professionally, Englund is best remembered for being a star college basketball
player for Wisconsin
, where as a senior
in 1940–41 he led the Badgers to win the NCAA National Championship
.
. He attended Rhinelander High School
in Rhinelander
where he graduated in 1937. When deciding where to play college basketball, he decided to stick close to home and enrolled at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
.
, Englund was a large player for the late 1930s and early 1940s. He broke out during his senior season in 1940–41 when he was team captain. He scored 162 points in Big Ten Conference
games, which set a new conference scoring record at the time, and was also named the Big Ten MVP
. Additionally, he (alongside star teammate John Kotz
) led Wisconsin to the school's first and only men's basketball national championship when they defeated Washington State
, 39–34. At the end of the season Englund was named a consensus Second Team All-American
.
(NBL). From 1941–42 through 1943–44, and again from 1946–49, he played for the NBL's Oshkosh All-Stars
(in 1943–44 he also played for the American Basketball League's Brooklyn Indians
). Englund won the NBL Championship as a rookie in 1941–42, leading his team in scoring while making seven field goals
and three free throw
s en route to 17 points. The All-Stars also lost the NBL championships in 1942–43 and 1945–46 while Englund played for them. Although he was never a superstar in the league, he did manage to finish third all-time in NBL points scored when the league merged with the Basketball Association of America
(BAA) in 1949, resulting in the formation of the present-day NBA.
At age 32 in 1949–50, Englund was well past his basketball playing prime. He lasted only one season in the NBA, splitting the year with first the Boston Celtics
and then the Tri-Cities Blackhawks
. After playing in 24 games for the Celtics while averaging 8.2 points per game, he was traded on January 29, 1950 for John Mahnken
. Englund finished the year out by appearing in 22 games for Tri-Cities and averaged 7.5 points per game.
for the Big Ten and NBA. He died on November 5, 1995 in Winnebago, Wisconsin
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
(NBA) for one season, , and split the season playing for 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...
and Tri-Cities Blackhawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
. Although he played professionally, Englund is best remembered for being a star college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
player for Wisconsin
Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball
The Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team is a NCAA Division I college basketball team competing in the Big Ten Conference. Home games are played at the Kohl Center, located on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus in Madison, Wisconsin....
, where as a senior
Senior (education)
Senior is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the 4th year of study .-High school:...
in 1940–41 he led the Badgers to win the NCAA National Championship
1941 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
-External links:* on Shrp Sports * , source for much of the information on this page.-See also:* 1941 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament...
.
Early life
Englund was born in Kenosha, WisconsinKenosha, Wisconsin
Kenosha is a city and the county seat of Kenosha County in the State of Wisconsin in United States. With a population of 99,218 as of May 2011, Kenosha is the fourth-largest city in Wisconsin. Kenosha is also the fourth-largest city on the western shore of Lake Michigan, following Chicago,...
. He attended Rhinelander High School
Rhinelander High School
Rhinelander High School, abbreviated RHS, is a high school in Rhinelander, Oneida County, Wisconsin USA. As of the 2007-08 school year, it had a student population of 1,091...
in Rhinelander
Rhinelander, Wisconsin
Rhinelander is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, Wisconsin, United States. Its population was 7,735 at the 2000 census.-Claim to fame:...
where he graduated in 1937. When deciding where to play college basketball, he decided to stick close to home and enrolled at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
.
College
As a , 205-lb (93 kg) forward and centerCenter (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
, Englund was a large player for the late 1930s and early 1940s. He broke out during his senior season in 1940–41 when he was team captain. He scored 162 points in Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
games, which set a new conference scoring record at the time, and was also named the Big Ten MVP
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
. Additionally, he (alongside star teammate John Kotz
John Kotz
John Kotz was an American collegiate basketball player and early professional, best known as the Most Outstanding Player of the 1941 NCAA Tournament as a member of the Wisconsin Badgers.-Collegiate career:...
) led Wisconsin to the school's first and only men's basketball national championship when they defeated Washington State
Washington State Cougars men's basketball
The Washington State Cougars Men's Basketball team represents Washington State University and competes in the Pacific-12 Conference of NCAA Division I...
, 39–34. At the end of the season Englund was named a consensus Second Team All-American
1941 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
The Consensus 1941 College Basketball All-American team, as determined by aggregating the results of four major All-American teams. To earn "consensus" status, a player must win honors from a majority of the following teams: the Helms Athletic Foundation, Converse, and Madison Square Garden.-1941...
.
Professional
When Englund graduated college in the spring of 1941, the most prevailing professional basketball league was the National Basketball LeagueNational Basketball League (United States)
Founded in 1937, the National Basketball League, often abbreviated to NBL, was a professional men's basketball league in the United States. The league would later merge with the Basketball Association of America to form the National Basketball Association in 1949.- League history :The...
(NBL). From 1941–42 through 1943–44, and again from 1946–49, he played for the NBL's Oshkosh All-Stars
Oshkosh All-Stars
The Oshkosh All-Stars were a professional basketball team based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. From 1937 to 1948 they played in the National Basketball League, a forerunner to the NBA. The team appeared in the NBL finals five consecutive years , winning twice...
(in 1943–44 he also played for the American Basketball League's Brooklyn Indians
Brooklyn Indians
The Brooklyn Indians were an American basketball team based in Brooklyn, New York that was a member of the American Basketball League.The team was previously known as the Camden Indians. The team moved to Brooklyn during the 1942/43 season on January 18, 1943. The team dropped out during the 1st...
). Englund won the NBL Championship as a rookie in 1941–42, leading his team in scoring while making seven field goals
Field goal (basketball)
In basketball, the term field goal refers to a basket scored on any shot or tap other than a free throw, worth two or three points depending on the distance of the attempt from the basket. "Field Goal" is the official terminology used by the National Basketball Association in their rule book,...
and three free throw
Free throw
In basketball, free throws or foul shots are unopposed attempts to score points from a restricted area on the court , and are generally awarded after a foul on the shooter by the opposing team...
s en route to 17 points. The All-Stars also lost the NBL championships in 1942–43 and 1945–46 while Englund played for them. Although he was never a superstar in the league, he did manage to finish third all-time in NBL points scored when the league merged with the Basketball Association of America
Basketball Association of America
The Basketball Association of America was a professional basketball league in North America, founded in 1946. The league merged with the National Basketball League in 1949, forming the National Basketball Association ...
(BAA) in 1949, resulting in the formation of the present-day NBA.
At age 32 in 1949–50, Englund was well past his basketball playing prime. He lasted only one season in the NBA, splitting the year with first 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...
and then the Tri-Cities Blackhawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
. After playing in 24 games for the Celtics while averaging 8.2 points per game, he was traded on January 29, 1950 for John Mahnken
John Mahnken
John E. Mahnken was an American former professional basketball player.A 6'8" center from West New York, New Jersey, Mahnken played high school basketball at Memorial High School in his hometown. He played at Georgetown University during the early 1940s, earning All-American honors in 1943...
. Englund finished the year out by appearing in 22 games for Tri-Cities and averaged 7.5 points per game.
Later life
After his playing career was over, Englund became an officialReferee
A referee is the person of authority, in a variety of sports, who is responsible for presiding over the game from a neutral point of view and making on the fly decisions that enforce the rules of the sport...
for the Big Ten and NBA. He died on November 5, 1995 in Winnebago, Wisconsin
Winnebago, Wisconsin
Winnebago is an unincorporated community in the town of Oshkosh in Winnebago County, Wisconsin, United States. It is located just outside of the northeast edge of the city of Oshkosh. The Winnebago Mental Health Institute is located in Winnebago. The Zip Code is: 54985. U.S...
.