John Oldham (basketball)

John Oldham (basketball)

John Oldham is a former college player, athletic director and basketball coach who gave the idea of Western Kentucky University's "Red Towel" logo, an iconic towel used by former coach E.A. Diddle.

As a player at Western Kentucky, Oldham was a United Press and Associated Press All-American in 1949. He scored 1,006 points in his collegiate career. He later played for the Fort Wayne Pistons of the National Basketball Association.

Oldham coached Western Kentucky's basketball team from 1964 to 1971, taking over for Diddle who retired in 1964. Oldham finished 146-41 with a 78% winning percentage, leading them to four NCAA tournaments and an NIT berth while establishing the Hilltopper's place atop the Ohio Valley Conference standings.

He led the Hilltoppers to the 1971 NCAA Tournament where they went to the Final Four and finished third overall (though years later the NCAA vacated their finish due to allegations that one of their players, Jim McDaniels, had signed with a professional agent prior to the end of the season).

On December 27, 2012, WKU honored Oldham in a pregame ceremony in which the court at EA Diddle Arena was christened "John Oldham Court." Oldham was a player, assistant and head men's basketball coach, and athletic director during his time at WKU.