Don Suman

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Don Suman
Biographical details
Born(1920-01-19)January 19, 1920
San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
DiedFebruary 5, 2015(2015-02-05) (aged 95)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Playing career
1944–1945Rice
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1949–1959Rice
Head coaching record
Overall132–105 (.557)
Tournaments1–1 (NCAA)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
SWC regular season (1954)

Donald W. Suman (January 19, 1920 – February 5, 2015) was a college basketball coach. He was the head coach of Rice from 1949 to 1959. He coached Rice to a 132–105 record, winning one Southwest Conference championship and making one NCAA tournament appearance. He also played college basketball and football as a student at Rice. After leaving his coaching position, he took a front office position under Bud Adams for the Houston Oilers. He was inducted into the Rice athletics Hall of Fame in 1987.[1] He left Rice to become General Manager of the new Houston Oilers. In his first three seasons as GM the Oilers won the first two AFL championships. In his two seasons as GM the Oilers combined record was 20–7–1.[2]

Suman died on February 5, 2015, in Houston.[3]

Head coaching record[edit]

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Rice Owls (Southwest Conference) (1949–1959)
1949–50 Rice 8–15 2–10 7th
1950–51 Rice 8–15 2–10 7th
1951–52 Rice 9–15 4–8 T–6th
1952–53 Rice 15–6 8–4 T–2nd
1953–54 Rice 23–5 9–3 T–1st NCAA Regional Third Place
1954–55 Rice 10–12 6–6 5th
1955–56 Rice 19–5 8–4 3rd
1956–57 Rice 16–8 8–4 2nd
1957–58 Rice 13–11 7–7 T–5th
1958–59 Rice 11–13 5–9 7th
Rice: 132–105 (.557) 59–65 (.476)
Total: 132–105 (.557)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References[edit]

  1. ^ http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/rice/genrel/auto_pdf/2011-12/misc_non_event/16thHOF.pdf Archived 2013-11-07 at the Wayback Machine [bare URL PDF]
  2. ^ Pro Football reference profile
  3. ^ "Donald W. Suman obituary". Legacy.com. Retrieved October 31, 2015.