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Fuzzy Vandivier

Vandivier, c. 1920s
Personal information
Born	(1903-12-26)December 26, 1903
Died	July 30, 1983(1983-07-30) (aged 79)
Nationality	American
Career information
High school	Franklin (Franklin, Indiana)
College	Franklin (1922–1926)
Coaching career	1926–1944
Career history
As coach:
1926–1944	Franklin HS

Robert P. "Fuzzy" Vandivier (December 26, 1903 – July 30, 1983) was an American high school and collegiate basketball player during the 1920s.

At Franklin High School he led a squad nicknamed "Franklin Wonder Five", a team that compiled an 89–9 record, won three state championships (1920, 1921, 1922) and is considered the greatest Indiana High School team of all time.

Vandivier was named All-State three times (1920, 1921, 1922), becoming the first player ever to achieve this feat (since then, John Wooden, Oscar Robertson and George McGinnis also achieved this level of success). Hall of Fame coach John Wooden considered Vandivier the greatest high school basketball player of all time.

Following his outstanding high school career, Vandivier attended local Franklin College (1922–26). In each year he was named All-State, and in 1926 he was an All-Midwest College All-Star. Due to a painful back ailment in his senior year, Vandivier's playing career was cut short. After graduating from Franklin, he returned as basketball coach to his high school. Vandivier coached the Franklin High School basketball team from 1926 to 1944. In 1939, under his leadership, they earned a place in the Indiana state finals.

References

1. "Fuzzy Vandivier - HOF BB Players". 2018-01-04. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
2. Krider, Dave (2007). Indiana high school basketball's 20 most dominant players. Bloomington, IN: Rooftop Pub. ISBN 978-1-60008-028-9. OCLC 166383204.
3. "Chapter 4: FHS Juniors (1920-21) | The Franklin Wonder Five". 2021-10-28. Archived from the original on 2021-10-28. Retrieved 2022-09-28.

External links

• Fuzzy Vandivier at Find a Grave

• 1903 births
• 1983 deaths
• Basketball players from Franklin, Indiana
• Franklin Grizzlies men's basketball players
• High school basketball coaches in the United States
• Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductees
• National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame inductees
• People from Johnson County, Indiana
• Sportspeople from the Indianapolis metropolitan area
• Franklin College (Indiana) alumni