University of Oklahoma Athletics
Lane Part of Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Class
April 05, 2010 | Men's Basketball
April 5, 2010
NORMAN, Okla. - Former University of Oklahoma men's basketball player and head coach Lester Lane will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame this summer as a member of the 1960 USA Olympic team. The squad joins the 1992 USA Basketball "Dream Team" and eight individuals as members of the Enshrinement Class of 2010 announced today by the Hall of Fame.
The 12-member 1960 USA team coached by Pete Newell compiled an 8-0 record at the Rome Olympic Games and won its contests by an average margin of 42.4 points. Lane, a guard, averaged 5.9 points per game for a team that featured existing hall of famers Oscar Robertson, Jerry Lucas, Jerry West and Walt Bellamy. USA beat Brazil in the gold medal game 90-63.
As a player at Oklahoma, Lane starred from the 1951-52 through 1954-55 seasons and finished his career as the school's all-time leading scorer (1,180 points). The two-time All-Big Seven Conference selection earned Helms Foundation All-America honors in 1955 when he averaged 19.6 points per game as a senior.
Lane also lettered two years in football at OU as a defensive halfback under head coach Bud Wilkinson and lettered in track and field as a pole vaulter.
In addition to his Olympic experience as a player, Lane served as Mexico's head coach in the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City. His team finished in fifth place with a 7-2 record.
Lane was named the eighth men's basketball head coach in University of Oklahoma history in April 1973 but died five months later before ever coaching a game. His 1960 Olympic jersey is on display at Lloyd Noble Center's Legacy Court on the south end of the arena.
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2010 will be enshrined at the Springfield Symphony Hall on Aug. 13 following a week of festivities in Springfield, Mass. Individuals in the class include Jerry Buss, Cynthia Cooper, Bob Hurley, Sr., Karl Malone and Scottie Pippen. Players who will be honored posthumously are Dennis Johnson, Gus Johnson and international star Maciel "Ubiratan" Pereira.
