Forrest "Phog" Clare Allen

Known as "Phog" for his foghorn umpire calls and "Doc" for his osteopathic skills, Forrest "Phog" Clare Allen was KU's head basketball coach from 1920 until his retirement in 1956. He said, "I won more games at the training table than on the sidelines." With a career win-loss record of 746-264, he coached 14 All-Americans, 24 Conference Championships at Kansas, 3 National Championship teams, and was National Coach of the Year in 1950. Before helping establish an NCAA post-season tournament in 1939, Allen was instrumental in establishing basketball as an Olympic sport beginning in 1936 at the Berlin Games. Married to Elizabeth Milton in 1908, "Bessie" was tutor to innumerable players, editor of articles and books written by her husband, and hostess for media, fellow coaches, and fans. The Allens were the parents of six children: Mary (Hamilton), Forrest, Jr., Milton, Jane (Mons), Robert, and Eleanor (Nelson). Asked what his favorite team was, he said, "I will have to wait 25 years to see what kind of people they become and their contributions to society."

Lawrence, Kansas · United States