Bob McCoy explained

Bob McCoy
Height Ft:6
Height In:6
Weight Lbs:210
Birth Date:28 November 1934
Birth Place:Longville, Louisiana
Death Place:DeRidder, Louisiana
Nationality:American
High School:Beauregard Parish
(DeRidder, Louisiana)
College:Grambling State (1953–1957)
Draft Year:1957
Draft Round:2
Draft Pick:10
Draft Team:Detroit Pistons
Career Position:Forward
Cyears1:1958–1970
Cteam1:George Washington Carver HS

Robert Lee McCoy (November 28, 1934 – July 2, 2016) was an American basketball player and coach. He was born in Longville, Louisiana, and attended Beauregard Parish Training School in nearby DeRidder.[1] McCoy played college basketball for the Grambling State Tigers from 1953 to 1957. He set a Louisiana state record for rebounds in a single game when he grabbed 34 during a 1954 game against Tougaloo College.[2] McCoy was selected by the Detroit Pistons as the 10th overall pick of the 1957 NBA draft and became the first black player from Louisiana to be drafted into the National Basketball Association (NBA).[3] Pistons head coach Charley Eckman asserted that "even such a highly regarded prospect as McCoy" would find it difficult to make the team's 10-player roster and McCoy ultimately never played in the NBA.[4]

McCoy served in the United States Army from 1957 to 1958. He returned to DeRidder to become a teacher and basketball coach at George Washington Carver High School from 1958 to 1970. He also taught and coached at DeRidder High School and in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Robert Lee "Coach" McCoy . Legacy.com . June 20, 2020.
  2. News: Bonnette . Louis . Grambling Stars Lead Cage Records . June 20, 2020 . Ruston Daily Leader . December 25, 1974 . 10.
  3. Web site: Troy . Josh . Dale Brown discusses community involvement, coaching experiences . Beauregard Daily News . June 20, 2020 . June 30, 2009.
  4. News: Fuscas . George . Piston Draftees Get Orders; Wings Back, Adams Happy . June 20, 2020 . Detroit Free Press . September 27, 1957 . 35.