One of the most successful college basketball coaches of all time, with a record of 523-126, John McClendon, Jr. is enshrined in the National Basketball Hall of Fame. His milestone 500th victory came at Cleveland State where he coached from 1966-69. Earlier he coached the Cleveland Sweeny Pipers (1959-61) to NIBL and national AAU championships. John learned the game as a student of its creator, Dr. James B. Naismith, at the University of Kansas. Won an unprecedented three consecutive NAIA titles at Tennessee State. Also coached at Hampton Institute, North Carolina Central, Kentucky State and the professional Denver Rockets of the ABA, and served on the coaching staffs of three U.S. Olympic teams. After 21 years as a national and international basketball consultant, he returned to Cleveland in 1991 and became a special assistant to the athletic director of Cleveland State and is a Professor in the University’s Black Studies program.