Bumper Tormohlen

Eugene R. "Bumper" Tormohlen (May 12, 1937 – December 27, 2018) was an American professional basketball player and coach. He played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for a little over five seasons, as a reserve center on the St. Louis/Atlanta Hawks. He played college basketball with the University of Tennessee Volunteers, in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). He led the SEC in rebounds per game as a junior and senior, and was second as a sophomore. Tormohlen was twice-named first-team All-SEC, and was an honorable mention All-America as a senior. Over sixty-five years after finishing his college career, he still holds the Tennessee Volunteers' career records for rebounds per game and total rebounds. He had 50 double-doubles during his three years on the Volunteers' varsity, and averaged 15.5 points and 16.9 rebounds per game over those three years. Before joining the NBA, he played in the National Industrial Basketball League for 2½ seasons and was twice its most valuable player.

Tormohlen was an assistant coach for at least ten years in the NBA, and worked as an NBA scout for over 40 years. He was an assistant coach with the Atlanta Hawks from 1968 to 1976, working under head coaches Richie Guerin and Cotton Fitzsimmons (serving eight games as interim head coach at the end of the 1975–76 season after Fitzsimmons was fired). He was also the Hawks' head scout for all or part of that period. Tormohlen held the same positions with the Chicago Bulls for all or parts of the 1976–77 to 1982–1983 seasons, remaining through numerous head coaching transitions. He became a scout for the Los Angeles Lakers in 1983, working with the Lakers until 2011.

Early life Tormohlen was born on May 12, 1937, in Holland, Indiana, to Albert and Louise (Weitkamp) Tormohlen. Tormohlen was a three-year starter in basketball for the Holland High Dutchmen. He was reported to be 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) as a junior (1954) and 6 ft 6½ in (1.94 m) or 6 ft 7 in (2 m) as a senior (1955). As of 2017, he was one of only four Holland High graduates to be on the honors banner at Huntingburg Memorial Gym. In Tormohlen's senior year, Holland reached the sectional final championship game in February 1955, losing 55–50 to Huntingburg. Tormohlen was named to the all-tournament team. He had 24 points in the championship game. In the opening round of the 1955 sectional tournament, Tormohlen had 25 of his team's 59 points, leading the No. 12 ranked Holland over the No. 3 ranked Jasper High School; In the game against Jasper, Holland dribbled and drove 20 feet to the basket and dunked the ball, in one of the game's decisive and most exhilarating plays. It was the first dunk in the history of the county sectional tournament. was born in Oakland City, Indiana, and had been a star basketball player at Indianapolis Tech High School and with the Purdue Boilermakers.

Tormohlen played center for the Tennessee Volunteers in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), and was a three-year starter on the varsity team. As a sophomore (1956–57), Tormohlen averaged 12.5 points and led the Vols with 16.2 rebounds per game. He was second in the SEC in rebounding average per game. As a junior, he averaged 16.2 points and 16.7 rebounds per game, leading the team in both categories, and leading the SEC in rebounding average. He was named first-team All-SEC that season. Both the Associated Press (AP) and United Press named Tormohlen first-team All-SEC.

As a senior (1958–59), Tormohlen averaged college career-highs of 17.8 points and 17.7 rebounds per game, leading Tennessee in both categories that season. He led the SEC in rebounding average as well, and was second in the nation in rebounding average that season. The AP named him first-team All-SEC for the second consecutive season, as did United Press International. The AP also named him an honorable mention for All-American. In April 1959, Tormohlen was named to Converse's second-team All-American team. In December 1958, he was named most valuable player in the Midwest Invititational Tournament. and first in Tennessee history (as of 2025–26). His 1,113 total rebounds ranks 13th all-time in SEC history and first in Tennessee history (as of 2025–26). He had 50 double-doubles during his college career, and averaged a double-double over his three-year Volunteers' career (15.5 points and 16.9 rebounds). He set numerous individual single game rebounding records at Tennessee.

Professional career

National Industrial Basketball League and American Basketball League Tormohlen was selected with the fifth pick in the second round of the 1959 NBA draft by the Syracuse Nationals. He instead chose to play as an amateur in the National Industrial Basketball League (NIBL). The NIBL offered players like Tormohlen the opportunity to work and begin a business career, while still playing basketball as amateurs on sponsored teams; playing in a 32-game season.

Tormohlen originally played with the Cleveland Sweeny Pipers in the 1959–60 season and with the Cleveland Pipers again in the 1960–61 season. He was twice the NIBL's most valuable player. The Pipers, originally sponsored by the Ed Sweeny Company in Cleveland, had joined the NIBL in May 1959. Tormohlen was among a number of prominent college seniors who chose to play in the NIBL rather than in the NBA that season. One of Tormohlen's Pipers' teammates in the starting lineup was his future NBA teammate John Barnhill. The Pipers were purchased in 1960 by George Steinbrenner, when the team was in a difficult financial position.

When Tormohlen joined the Pipers, the team was coached by John McClendon, who had learned basketball directly from James Naismith. McClendon has been called the first African American coach of a professional sports team; although the Pipers did not join a professional league (the American Basketball League) until 1961. The Pipers were national Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) champions during both of Tormohlen's seasons with the team, and NIBL champions in 1960–61. Before their 1960–61 season, the Pipers defeated the 1960 United States men's Olympic basketball team in an exhibition game, 101–96; the only defeat that team ever suffered.

In October 1961, the Pipers traded Turmohlen to the Kansas City Steers in the fledgling American Basketball League (ABL) for a 1962 draft choice and cash. Tormohlen was considered the ABL's fastest center, and was fourth in the league in rebounding in his first ABL season. The Steers were 54–25, and lost in the ABL championship series to the Cleveland Pipers (who had joined the ABL), three games to two. They played under coach Jack McMahon, of whom Tormohlen remained appreciative over the years for the considerable help McMahon gave Tormohlen while with the Steers.

"Bumper" nickname Tormohlen said that he received his nickname "Bumper" from teammate Bill Bridges, while playing with the Steers. The two would frequently work out against each other, and in light of the sizable Tormohlen's aggressive play, Bridges began to call him "Bumper". After joining the NBA, the 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 230 lb (104 kg) – Tormohlen was known for forcefully pursuing rebounds in a straight line regardless of other players being between him and the ball, including against his own teammates in practice. This contributed to use of the "Bumper" nickname among his Hawks' teammates in 1963. At least by late 1963, he was being referred to as "Bumper" in St. Louis newspapers covering the Hawks. Off of the basketball court, from his youth on throughout his entire life, Tormohlen was known for his gentle and kind ways towards others.

National Basketball Association In July 1962, as the ABL was failing, the St. Louis Hawks obtained the contract rights to Tormohlen and six other ABL players including, among others, Bill Bridges, Hal Lear, and Mike Farmer. The Hawks had earlier sent Dave Gambee to the Syracuse Nationals, who had drafted Tormohlen in 1959, as part of obtaining Tormohlen's rights. Even after these moves by the Hawks, Tormohlen and his Steers' teammate Bridges continued to play for the Steers late into 1962, before the ABL actually collapsed on December 31, 1962. Tormohlen and Bridges signed with the Hawks in early January 1963.

Tormohlen played in 51 games for the Hawks the following season (1963–64), averaging 12.5 minutes, 4.1 points, and 4.2 rebounds per game.

In September 1964, before the 1964–65 season, Tormohlen announced he was retiring and he did not play in the 1964–65 season. Tormohlen returned to the Hawks for the 1965–66 season, and played in 71 games, averaging 4.8 points and 4.4 rebounds in nearly 11 minutes per game.

Tormohlen played in 63 games for the Hawks during the 1966–67 season. With Beaty injured for a large part of that season, Tormohlen averaged NBA career highs in minutes per game (16.4), points per game (6.3) and rebounds per game (5.5). Tormohlen had the best game of his career on November 29, 1966, against Wilt Chamberlain and the Philadelphia 76ers (the eventual NBA champions that season). He played 35 minutes, scored 27 points, and had 15 rebounds.

The 1967–68 season was his last full year in the NBA. He played in a career high 77 games, averaging 9.3 minutes, three points, and 2.9 rebounds per game. Rather than play for the Suns, Turmonlen announced his retirement from the NBA for a second time in June 1968, at the same time accepting a position as an assistant coach with the now Atlanta Hawks.

Tormohlen did not play during the 1968–69 season. Tormohlen played eleven total minutes in two games for the Hawks in 1969. Tormohlen continued as an assistant coach to Guerin that season. He retired as a player for a third time and did not play again in the NBA.

Coaching and scouting career

Atlanta Hawks (1968 to 1976) In June 1968, before beginning their first season in Atlanta, the Hawks named Tormohlen an assistant coach to head coach Richie Guerin. Even before being named as an assistant coach, during the 1966–67 season, Tormohlen helped Hawks' head coach Guerin keep track of timeouts, personal fouls, and team fouls during games. When it was announced Guerin was leaving his coaching position to become the Hawks' general manager at the end of the 1971–72 season, Tormohlen expressed no interest in the head coaching job. and Tormohlen remained an assistant coach; but worked primarily as a scout. In 1976, with the Hawks at 28–46 and mired in a ten-game losing streak, Tormohlen was promoted to replace Fitzsimmons on an interim basis on March 30, 1976. Tormohlen coached the last eight games of the 1975–76 season.

Chicago Bulls (1976 to 1983) The next season, the Hawks hired Hubie Brown as their full-time head coach, and Brown did not keep Tormohlen on his staff. In early September 1976, Tormohlen was hired as an assistant coach and head scout by the Chicago Bulls, under head coach Ed Badger. Badger coached Chicago for two seasons, and was replaced by Larry Costello. During the 1978–79 season, Tormohlen's scouting role was reduced when Costello was fired in the second half of the 1978–79 season; and the team wanted Tormohlen to spend more time in the role of assistant coach at the team's games.

Jerry Sloan was hired to coach the Bulls before the 1979–80 season, and the team kept Tormohlen in his role as assistant coach and head scout under Sloan for the next two seasons. Tormohlen kept his positions with the Bulls in 1981–82, but Sloan was fired during the season. Tormohlen remained a scout with the Bulls until 1983, spending seven seasons overall with the team. He worked as a Lakers' scout until 2011, when the team let him go in July, along with about 20 other employees, in connection with the 2011 NBA lockout. In the mid-1990s, he worked under Jerry West, who was responsible for scouting the most talented college players as potential first round selections, with Tormohlen looking for players suitable as second round selections or free agent signings. It was also part of Tormohlen's job to dissuade West from picking a player if Tormohlen thought West was making a mistake. He received six NBA championship rings while working with the Lakers. In one game, he was certain he had caused Chamberlain to commit a foul, which would have resulted in Chamberlain's fouling out of a game for the only time in his career. Instead, the referee called Tormohlen for fouling Chamberlain. Tormohlen related, "I walked by the free throw line and said to Wilt, ‘It must be great to be a superstar.’ Wilt said, ‘Tormohlen, that’s one thing you’ll never have to worry about".

Personal life and death Tormohlen met his wife Julie (Stafford) Tormohlen while playing in Kansas City, and they had two children.

Career statistics

NBA Source

Regular season Year Team GP MPG FG% FT% RPG APG PPG St. Louis 7 6.7 .500 .200 2.1 .7 1.7 St. Louis 51 12.5 .376 .478 4.2 1.0 4.1 St. Louis 71 10.9 .444 .659 4.4 .8 4.8 St. Louis 63 16.4 .427 .595 5.5 1.2 6.3 St. Louis 77 9.3 .374 .589 2.9 .9 3.0 Atlanta 2 5.5 .500 – 2.0 .5 2.0Career 271 11.9 .411 .579 4.1 .9 4.4

Playoffs Year Team GP MPG FG% FT% RPG APG PPG 1963 St. Louis 5 3.0 .400 – 1.0 .6 1.6 1964 St. Louis 6 6.5 .385 .600 2.3 .8 2.2 1966 St. Louis 6 6.3 .200 .750 3.0 1.0 1.2 1967 St. Louis 6 8.7 .524 .400 3.7 .3 4.0 1968 St. Louis 3 8.3 .333 .750 2.0 1.7 2.3Career 26 6.5 .400 .611 2.5 .8 2.3

Head coaching record

Source