Bruce Drake

Teams coached: Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma record: 200-182 (.524)
Overall record: 200-182 (.524)

1938-1955

Bruce Drake
Born December 5, 1905
Died December 4, 1983
Hometown: Gentry, Texas
Alma Mater: University of Oklahoma (BA, 1929)
The Texas-native played for Hugh McDermott at OU, named a Helms All-American for the 1928-29 season
Became the coach at his alma mater in 1938, a job he held for 17 seasons in Norman
- Went 200-182 during his tenure, finishing with a winning record in 11 of 17 campaigns
- Led the Sooners to the Final Four in the first ever NCAA Tournament (1939) and returned in 1947
- Claimed six Big Six/Big Seven regular season titles, the fourth most of any head coach in the conference
- Served as Chairman of the NCAA Rules Committee from 1951-55, helping make goaltending illegal in the game
- Developed the Shuffle (or Drake Shuffle) offense used at Oklahoma and later used by Bob Spear and Dean Smith
After OU, Drake coached at the Air Force Academy before the squad became official in 1956
- Air Force’s first official head coach, Bob Spear, would use Drake’s Shuffle offense with his height-restricted teams
Was also an assistant with Team USA’s gold medal-winning 1956 Melbourne Olympic squad
Spent one year coaching the Wichita Vickers of the National Industrial Basketball League (NIBL)
Passed away in 1983 just one day shy of his 78th birthday
- Survived by his wife, Myrtle, two daughters and six grandchildren