Coach Adolph Rupp is an historic figure who looms larger than life. In this extremely well-written and researched biography, Bolin has scoured newspaper articles, oral histories, and secondary sources to present Rupp's story, literally from cradle to grave. This book will be the standard and enduring biography of Rupp for years to come.
Legions of Big Blue Nation followers may deify Rupp as the man who created a basketball dynasty, but the author shows Rupp to be different things to different people: a loving father, a devoted husband, a loyal friend, a benevolent boss to his secretary and farm manager, a boss suspicious of his assistant coaches, a martinet in khakis to his players, and a racial conundrum. This book chronicles his success while, at times, it strips the Rupp legend down to the studs. It is a 'warts and all' examination of a very complex, self-centered, but highly successful basketball coach and businessman.
This detailed and richly researched biography is written in a clear and engaging manner that reflects the work of a historian at the top of his game. Bolin is definitely fully engaged with Adolph Rupp's multi-faceted life and has demonstrated his mastery of his wide-ranging sources. An excellent book!
James Duane Bolin puts Adolph Rupp's life under the microscope in this meticulously researched book. Bolin takes readers on an engaging journey, from Rupp's humble Mennonite upbringing in rural Kansas to his recollection of playing with his first basketball made out of a gunnysack, and on to Lexington, Kentucky, where he became one of the most successful and controversial coaches in college basketball history. There's no agenda here beyond a frank effort to understand the legacy of Adolph Rupp.
An interesting read for all college basketball fans, and UK fans in particular. It is literally everything you could want to know about Kentucky basketball from before Rupp arrived on campus thru his forced retirement due to the state-mandated retirement age at 70.
Rupp is meticulously researched... It would be hard to digest this manuscript without developing an enthusiasm for the monumental contributions of Rupp to intercollegiate athletics on multiple levels. At the same time, Bolin was careful to present an accurate portrait of Rupp, blemishes and all, an individual who was a product of the times in which he lived and worked.... Many readers - especially in this part of the country - will want to add it to their bookshelves. Highly recommended.
"Coach Adolph Rupp is an historic figure who looms larger than life. In this extremely well-written and researched biography, Bolin has scoured newspaper articles, oral histories, and secondary sources to present Rupp's story, literally from cradle to grave. This book will be the standard and enduring biography of Rupp for years to come." John Thelin, University of Kentucky
"Legions of Big Blue Nation followers may deify Rupp as the man who created a basketball dynasty, but the author shows Rupp to be different things to different people: a loving father, a devoted husband, a loyal friend, a benevolent boss to his secretary and farm manager, a boss suspicious of his assistant coaches, a martinet in khakis to his players, and a racial conundrum. This book chronicles his success while, at times, it strips the Rupp legend down to the studs. It is a "warts and all" examination of a very complex, self-centered, but highly successful basketball coach and businessman." James W. Miller, author of Integrated: The Lincoln Institute, Basketball, and a Vanished Tradition
"James Duane Bolin puts Adolph Rupp's life under the microscope in this meticulously researched book. Bolin takes readers on an engaging journey, from Rupp's humble Mennonite upbringing in rural Kansas to his recollection of playing with his first basketball made out of a gunnysack, and on to Lexington, Kentucky, where he became one of the most successful and controversial coaches in college basketball history. There's no agenda here beyond a frank effort to understand the legacy of Adolph Rupp." Doug Brunk, author of Forty Minutes to Glory: Inside the Kentucky Wildcats' 1978 Championship Season
"This detailed and richly researched biography is written in a clear and engaging manner that reflects the work of a historian at the top of his game. Bolin is definitely fully engaged with Adolph Rupp's multi-faceted life and has demonstrated his mastery of his wide-ranging sources. An excellent book!" Richard O. Davies, Distinguished Profess or History, Emeritus, University of Nevada, Reno