Nat Holman

Nat Holman (1896-1995)

Teams coached: CCNY Beavers
CCNY record: 405-150 (.730)
Overall record: 405-150 (.730)

Career Accomplishments:

Awards:

  • Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (inducted 1964)

Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):

1958-1959 CCNY
1954-1956 CCNY
1919-1951 CCNY

Nat Holman Facts

  • Nat Holman
  • Born October 19, 1896
  • Died February 12, 1995
  • Hometown: New York City, New York
  • Alma Mater: Savage School for Physical Education (BA, 1917) / New York University (MA)
  • Grew up on the Lower East Side in New York and played basketball for the NYU Violets
    • After getting his master’s from NYU, Holman started a long professional career
    • Played for the Original Celtics, a barnstorming team based in NYC, before and during his coaching career
      • Also played in the ABL for teams based out of Brooklyn, Syracuse and Chicago
  • In 1919, Holman became the head basketball coach at City College of New York (CCNY)
    • Coached the CCNY Beavers, who played at college basketball’s top division, for a total of 36 seasons
    • Was successful in the pre-NCAAT/NIT seasons, as well as throughout the 1940s and 1950s
    • Went to the NIT four times and the NCAA twice, reaching the NCAA Final Four twice
  • The CCNY program was involved in a multiple-school point shaving scandal in 1951, though Holman himself was cleared of wrongdoing
    • Multiple Beavers’ players were arrested and eventually the school de-emphasized athletics (they are now Division III)
    • Holman was suspended for the 1951-52 but later returned for brief stints as head coach before retiring for good in 1959
    • Finished his career with an overall head coaching record of 405-150, winning 73% of his games at CCNY
  • Travelled internationally as an ambassador for the game, including trips to Israel, Canada, Japan, Turkey, Mexico and Taiwan
    • Served for eight years as President of the United States Committee Sports for Israel
  • Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the class of 1964
    • Also a member of the International Jewish Sports HOF (c/o 1979), New York Basketball HOF and CCNY HOF

Nat Holman Coaching Tree

  • Red Holzman (New York Knicks, Milwaukee/St. Louis Hawks)
  • Floyd Layne (CCNY)
  • David Polansky (CCNY)