Ken Cole

HTML <h2><strong>No 24 KEN COLE</strong></h2>

HTML <h2><strong>6 feet 8 inch (204cm) Forward/Guard</strong></h2>

HTML <h2><strong>1964, 1968 Olympic Games</strong></h2>

HTML <p>The basketball game was in full motion and one player in particular was “putting on a clinic”. After one spectacular move the Coach of the opposition team turned to his bench and said, “Did you see that move?That was fantastic. That was so great!” One of his players said, “But Coach he is on the other team”. The coach Ken Cole replied, “I don’t care. It is basketball at its best, and you have to admire that.” Such was Ken Cole’s love of the game.</p>

HTML <p>Kenneth Frank Cole was born October 15th, 1943 in Randwick, Sydney NSW. The tough Sydney suburbs of Redfern and Paddington were the growing up areas of his youth.</p>

HTML <p>Ken Cole started playing basketball at Paddington Technical School when he was fourteenyears old. However he was learning the game on the asphalt playgrounds of Woolloomooloo where so many other future NSW representative players learned their craft. Because he was tall Ken was selected in the school team and that year Tech went on to lose the Grand Final of the Sydney High Schools Championship. It was Ken’s first exposure to a high level of basketball and despite his age he was named in the NSW High School Team.</p>

HTML <p>At sixteen years of age Ken joined the Saints a team in the local Playgrounds Competition. </p>

HTML <p>Ken was then exposed to the large number of US Mormon players. The Mormons were using their basketball to attract youngsters to their faith but they probably attracted more to basketball. Ken says he was greatly influenced by their skills and play.</p>

HTML <p>The Playground experience saw Ken take a great leap forward when he encountered the charismatic coach Charlie Ammit. Ken explains, “I met Charlie Ammit and his early coaching excited me about the sport.” That was not an unusual effect for Charlie as his total enthusiasm and sheer joy in coaching the fundamentals of the game was legendary.</p>

HTML <p>Ken was learning by watching and meeting Olympians Bruce Flick (1956) and Ross Graham (1960) as well as being exposed to further coaching by Paratels coach Bob Elphinston (who hadan outstanding career in basketball as an administrator) and to the larger than life Coach Dr John Raschke who went on to Legend status in the Basketball Australia Hall of Fame.</p>

HTML <p>Ken’s first NSW State selection was in 1961 when he was named as Captain of the NSW Under 18 men’s team for the National Championships. Future Olympian Carl Rodwell (1964, 1968 Olympics) was also on that team. Ken was named in the NSW Senior Men’s Team in 1962 at the age of eighteen. At that time being the youngest player ever to be selected to State senior team. </p>

HTML <p>Ken Cole (9) Rebounding in a VBA game</p>

HTML <p>(Courtesy of Ken Cole)</p>

HTML <p>The 1962 NSW team played in the Australian Championships in Perth and with a few of the senior players getting injured Ken was promoted to the starting line-up. After the final of the Championships he was named to the Australian Men’s team to represent Australia at the 1962 World Championships. He was at that time the youngest player ever to be selected for an Australian Men’s Team. He was eighteen years of age and would turn nineteen after the World Championships.</p>

HTML <p>The 1962 World Men’s Basketball Championships became the unofficial championships and an “Invitation Tournament” as FIBA refused to recognise the tournament because of actions by the Philippine Government refusing Visas to some countries. Ken was at this time exposed to the great South Australian and soon to be Australian 1964 Olympic Coach Keith Miller, and to one of Australia’s gentlemen in basketball Manager Frank Angove. The Championships in the Philippines opened Ken’s eyes to the greater world of basketball.“I came back to Sydney and I was on cloud nine,” he recalls. The Australians didn’t win a game but Ken was hooked on what the possibilities were for him if he excelled at basketball. There was a big basketball world out there!</p>

HTML <p>Ken goes to the basket against the USA in the 1962 InvitationalWorld Championships.(Courtesy of K. Cole)</p>

HTML <p>Before the 1964 Olympic Games Ken badly injured his knee and was basically playing on one leg. In Ken’s eyes he was fortunate to be chosen on the Olympic Team. He felt that the selectors must have been impressed by his past play and his potential.</p>

HTML <p>Selection on the 1964 Australian Olympic Basketball Team was a highlight for Ken. The Australian Team astounded the world in the Qualification Tournament in Yokohama and again in the Finals in Tokyo. </p>

HTML <p>The team came 9th in the Olympic Tournament. It was a performance that won the respect of world basketball and received a lot of media coverage back in Australia. The enthusiasm back in Australia following the Tokyo Olympics influenced basketball across the nation.</p>

HTML <p>After the 1964 Olympics Ken had stints of domestic basketball in Newcastle, Devonport Tasmania, then to Melbourne to play with the Nunawading Demons and then the Melbourne Church Tigers under Coach Ken Watson. It was here at the Tigers that he played alongside great players such as Lindsay Gaze and Bill Wyatt. During this time Ken established himself as one of Australia’s premier players.</p>

HTML <p>Ken was selected on the 1968 Australian Team for the 1968 Mexico Olympic Games. The Australian Team played in the Qualification Tournament in Monterrey and unfortunately did not qualify for the Finals in Mexico City.According to Ken,“Mexico was a disaster!” </p>

HTML <p>After Mexico Ken became Captain/Coach of the St Kilda Basketball Club and was instrumental in establishing that Club as one of Australia’s leading Clubs. St Kilda was a young and upcoming Club and included players Robbie Johnson, Ken Burbridge and Brian Kerle. Ken’s charismatic play, aggressive coaching backed by copious confidence established his reputation throughout Australia as one of its best players and coaches. Under his guidance St Kilda won numerous Victorian and Australian Club Championships. The team also established a twelve man game with full-court presses and “fast-break-run and gun” basketball which swept all before them, including Melbourne Church.</p>

HTML <p>Ken was selected on the 1970 Australian Team that competed in the World Championships in Yugoslavia. The team had little preparation and was not prepared for the developed style of European basketball and did not win a game.</p>

HTML <p>The 1970 World Championships were Ken’s last games in the Australian uniform. </p>

HTML <p>He moved to Adelaide in 1973 to play and coach South Adelaide and West Adelaide to State titles. He also coached SA to the National Championship in 1977. </p>

HTML <p>Seeking further horizons Ken moved to Louisiana, USA where he along with the Louisiana State University (LSU) Coach Dale Brown established the International Basketball Corporation which conducted coaching clinics around the world. Cole accepted a position as coach of the Egyptian National Basketball Team for the 1980 Olympics but Egypt joined the American boycott of the Moscow Olympics and did not attend the Games.</p>

HTML <p>Back in Australia in 1982 Cole assisted as Coach of the West Adelaide team that defeated Geelong in the National Basketball League (NBL) Final that year. He returned to the States but came back to Australia in 1984 to take over West Adelaide after Ken Richardson’s retirement.</p>

HTML <p>In 1985 the Adelaide 36ers and West Adelaide merged. Cole was appointed Coach of the new NBL team. In the 1985/86 periodAdelaide won 44 games and lost only 7. They were upset by Brisbane Bullets in the 1985NBL Grand Final, but went on to win the NBL title in 1986. Cole then left Adelaide in controversial circumstances. </p>

HTML <p>Ken Cole coach and teacher (Courtesy of K. Cole)</p>

HTML <p>He followed his time in Adelaide with stints as Coach at the Sydney Supersonics and Newcastle Falcons. In 1991 he returned to the USA where he continued his various basketball businesses. Ken was diagnosed with diabetes and has worked throughout the US educating about diabetes. He has always been an avid tennis player and after retiring from basketball he played in various Masters Tournaments and still plays regularly each week.</p>

HTML <p>During his playing and coaching career Ken Cole was one of Australia’s most controversial basketball figures. He has been variously described as “the John McEnroe of Australian basketball” and a “flawed genius”.</p>

HTML <p> All those who saw him play recognised his great talent and those who saw him coach were left with an indelible impression of a passionate innovative Coach who sometimes wore a ten gallon hat and sparkling shoes.</p>

HTML <p>Ken lives in San Diego, USA and continues his interests in health supplements and working in the fight against diabetes.</p>

HTML <p>Ken Cole was inducted into the Basketball Australia Hall of Fame in 2013.</p>

HTML <p>Ken Cole shooting for the basket (Courtesy of K. Cole)</p>