High School Coaching
Rupp began his career in coaching by accepting a teaching job at Burr Oak High School, Kansas. After a one year stay, Rupp moved on to Marshalltown, Iowa where he coached wrestling, a sport he knew nothing about at the time and learned from a book. He did lead the Marshalltown team to a state wrestling title in 1926.
In 1926-30, Rupp accepted the basketball head coaching position at Freeport High School, (Freeport, Illinois) where he also taught history and economics. During his four years at Freeport, Rupp compiled a record of 66-21 and guided his team to a third-place finish in the 1929 state tournament. While at Freeport High School Rupp started William "Mose" Mosely, the first African-American to play basketball at Freeport and the second to graduate from the school.
University of Illinois head basketball coach Craig Ruby was invited to speak at the team banquet following the 1929-30 season. Ruby informed Rupp of the Kentucky head coaching job and followed up by recommending him for the job.
During his time in Freeport, Rupp met his future wife, Esther Schmidt.
Read more about this topic: Adolph Rupp
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