Carl Cain

Carl Cecil Cain (August 2, 1934 – June 2, 2024) was an American basketball player. He was a member of the United States national team that won the Olympic gold medal in the 1956 Summer Olympics. Born in Freeport, Illinois, Cain played college basketball for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

His number was retired by the University of Iowa basketball program. He is an inductee to the Des Moines Register State of Iowa Sports Hall of Fame.

Early life Cain was born in Freeport, Illinois, on August 2, 1934, to parents Sammie Cain Jr. and Ines Williams. Cain initially decided to major in political science. Although any of the five players were able to have the lead role in a game, Cain was chosen as the Most Valuable Player during their sophomore and senior years. During their junior year, they were the first Iowa team to average 80 points per game.

Future sports career Cain was part of the 1956 U.S. Olympic team and was on the same team as Bill Russell, who previously played for San Francisco during the earlier 1956 game. They had three daughters.

Later life and death Cain worked on Douglas Aircraft's assembly line, as a probation counselor, and later as a probation officer. Following his death, the city of Freeport named the date of his death as Carl Cain Day.