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Indiana State University Athletics

Hall of Fame

Klueh

Duane Klueh

  • Class
    1949
  • Induction
    1982
  • Sport(s)
    Basketball
Duane Klueh is perhaps one of the most famous athletes and coaches in the annuls of Indiana State athletic history.  A noted basketball and tennis star while attending ISU, Klueh returned to his alma mater in 1955 to coach those two sports to numerous championships as well as devoting much of his time to teaching duties as an associate professor of Physical Education.
 
One of Indiana State's all-time great basketball players, Klueh is a member of the NAIB All-Time Basketball Team as well as being a member of the NAIA Hall of Fame. He was the MVP of the NAIB National Tournament in which ISU was runner-up to Louisville.  Equally as talented in tennis, Duane won the Little State singles championship in Indiana while at ISU.
 
Klueh was four times selected as the Indiana Collegiate Conference "Coach of the Year" in basketball and served as president of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Basketball Coaches.
 
A former professional basketball player for two years, he led ISU to two post-season NCAA Small College Basketball Tournament appearances. Now retired from the teaching faculty at Indiana State, Duane Klueh is still participating and winning major age-group tennis tournaments in the region.

  • Played basketball at Indiana State Teachers College 1946-1949 

  • Teams posted 68-23 record under coaches John Wooden and John Longfellow 

  • Named 1948 National Player of the Year by Helms Foundation 

  • Named 1948 All-American by Helms Foundation 

  • Led 1948 team to finals of NAIB (now NAIA) tournament at Kansas City, losing to Louisville in finals. 

  • Team finished 27-7 during season 

  • Led 1949 team to semifinals of NAIB tournament at Kansas City where the team finished fourth. 

  • Finished career with 1,432 points 

  • Was  head men’s basketball coach at Indiana State from 1955-1967 

  • Led Indiana State to three straight Indiana Collegiate Conference titles (1965, 1966, 1967) 

  • Was ICC coach of the year four times (1959, 1963, 1966, 1967) 

  • Compiled a record of 182-122 in 12 seasons. 

  • Teams earned NAIA bids in 1959, 1962 and 1963 

  • Team played in College Division of NCAA tournament in 1966 and 1967 

  • Ten players earned first team all-conference honors including All-Americans Jerry Newsom and Butch Wade 

  • Coached tennis at Indiana State for 25 years (1956-1980, 1989) 

  • Compiled 257-171 record 

  • Won 1948 Little States Singles Championship in Indiana 

  • Has been  nationally ranked in both singles and doubles on senior tennis tour 

  • ISU’s on-campus tennis complex, constructed in 1966, bears his name. 

  • Inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1955 

  • One of 10 individuals named to All-Time NAIA Basketball Team in 1971 

  • Inducted into Athletics Hall of Fame October 29, 1982. 

  • Inducted into the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1988. 

  • Induced into the Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame in 2006. 

  • His Indiana State jersey #54 is one of only two numbers retired by Indiana State in 2004. 

  • Received the Dick Martin Coaches Award in 1998 

  • Inducted into Hall of Fame Inaugural Class October 29, 1982 

  • Inducted into Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame 2006 

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