Men's Basketball
McCracken, Branch
Branch McCracken
- Title:
- Head Coach
364-174 (.677), 210-116 (.644)
While Dean’s era dug the foundation for college basketball at Indiana, Branch McCracken’s two stints as Indiana University Head Basketball Coach were the concrete needed to solidify that foundation. McCracken spent 24 years at the helm of the “Hurryin’ Hoosiers” and brought two National Championships, four Big Ten Championships and IU’s first four 20-win seasons to Bloomington. The first national title came in 1940 when the Hoosiers finished 20-3 overall and 9-3 in the Big Ten. NCAA Championship number two came in the 1952-53 season when the squad racked up a then-school-record 23 wins to only three losses, an unprecedented 17-1 Big Ten record and IU’s first number 1 national ranking and first outright Big Ten Championship. McCracken led the squad to a 364-174 overall record and a 210-116 Big Ten record. His 450 career wins places him 76th on the NCAA’s all-time victories list and 86th on the all-time winningest coaches list. McCracken served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army in World War II from 1944-46. The legendary coach was elected to the Indiana University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1982.
While Dean’s era dug the foundation for college basketball at Indiana, Branch McCracken’s two stints as Indiana University Head Basketball Coach were the concrete needed to solidify that foundation. McCracken spent 24 years at the helm of the “Hurryin’ Hoosiers” and brought two National Championships, four Big Ten Championships and IU’s first four 20-win seasons to Bloomington. The first national title came in 1940 when the Hoosiers finished 20-3 overall and 9-3 in the Big Ten. NCAA Championship number two came in the 1952-53 season when the squad racked up a then-school-record 23 wins to only three losses, an unprecedented 17-1 Big Ten record and IU’s first number 1 national ranking and first outright Big Ten Championship. McCracken led the squad to a 364-174 overall record and a 210-116 Big Ten record. His 450 career wins places him 76th on the NCAA’s all-time victories list and 86th on the all-time winningest coaches list. McCracken served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army in World War II from 1944-46. The legendary coach was elected to the Indiana University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1982.
FB: Under the Hood with Indiana Football - Week 2 (Kennesaw State)
Thursday, September 04
FB: D'Angelo Ponds Media Availability (9/2/25)
Tuesday, September 02
FB: Pat Coogan Media Availability (9/2/25)
Tuesday, September 02
Indiana University Athletics: Hoosier the Bison's First Entrance
Saturday, August 30
