| Ray Hamann | |
| Position: | Guard / forward |
| Height Ft: | 6 |
| Height In: | 4 |
| Weight Lb: | 205 |
| Birth Date: | 19 August 1911 |
| Birth Place: | Yankton, South Dakota, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Yankton, South Dakota, U.S. |
| Nationality: | American |
| High School: | Yankton (Yankton, South Dakota) |
| College: | Wisconsin (1932–1935) |
| Years1: | 1935–1940 |
| Team1: | Oshkosh All-Stars |
| Years2: | 1937–1938 |
| Team2: | Kimberly Athletic Association |
| Years3: | 1940–1941 |
| Team3: | Thorpe Gamble All-Stars |
| Years4: | 1941 |
| Team4: | Kimberly Pipe Makers |
| Cyears1: | 1937–1938 |
| Cteam1: | Kimberly HS |
| Cyears2: | 19??–19?? |
| Cteam2: | Appleton HS |
| Cyears3: | 1942–1945 |
| Cteam3: | Lawrence |
| Highlights: |
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Raymond Henry Hamann (August 19, 1911 – May 7, 2005) was an American professional basketball player and college coach.[1] [2] By playing in the National Basketball League for the Oshkosh All-Stars during the 1937–38 and 1938–39 seasons,[1] [3] Hamann became the first South Dakotan to play organized professional basketball.[4] He also competed for the All-Stars when they were a barnstorming independent team.[2]
Hamann played college basketball at Wisconsin from 1932–33 to 1934–35 and helped guide the Badgers to a co-conference championship as a senior.[2] During his professional career he coached basketball at Kimberly and Appleton high schools.[4] He served in the Navy during World War II.[2] When he returned, Hamann earned a master's degree from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, while also serving as their head men's basketball coach from 1942–43 to 1944–45.[4] [5] Although he compiled a cumulative record of 11 wins and 15 losses, he led the Vikings to a Midwest Conference championship in his first season.[4] [6]
Hamann died on May 7, 2005, in his hometown of Yankton, South Dakota.[6]