About Don Shields
Lived 1914 – 1993 (aged 78). Don Shields was an American basketball player and basketball coach.
Don Shields (September 19, 1914 - March 30, 1993) was an American college basketball player for the Temple Owls men's basketball team. He was also a professional basketball player for the Phillips 66ers, and later became a head coach for the Tulsa Golden Hurricane men's basketball team, and an NCAA referee.
College career Shields was a college basketball player for the Temple Owls men's basketball team under coach James Usilton from 1935 to 1938. He was nicknamed the 'spectacular splinter', and in 1938 led the Owls to victory in the inaugural NIT (National Invitation Tournament) championship game. He was voted as the 'most valuable player' of the tournament, and in 1969 was inducted into the Temple basketball Hall of Fame. During his tenure, Shields achieved All-American honors in 35-36', and again in 37-38', and his Owls compiled a record of 58-14.
Professional career Phillips 66ers After college, Shields played with the Phillips 66ers (also known as the Phillips Oilers; from Bartlesville, Oklahoma) of the Amateur Athletic Union and the National Industrial Basketball League. His squad won the National AAU Championship in 1940 and 1942.
Coaching career Tulsa Golden Hurricanes In 1945 through 1947, Don Shields coached the Tulsa Golden Hurricane men's basketball team. Head coaching record
Later career Shields later became a college basketball referee and officiated in an NCAA tournament Final four game. He was also the general manager at Mid-Continent Pipeline Co. (which would later be known as Sun Oil Co. and which eventually would become Sunoco.)
Don Shields died on March 30, 1993.
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Important facts
People in Don Shields's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Don Shields's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Don Shields?
basketball player (1914–1993)
When was Don Shields born?
Don Shields was born on 19 September 1914 in Oklahoma.
When did Don Shields die?
Don Shields died on 30 March 1993 in Tulsa.
What was Don Shields's occupation?
Don Shields was a basketball player and basketball coach.
What nationality was Don Shields?
Don Shields was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Don Shields. https://biography.guide/don-shields/
MLA: "Don Shields." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/don-shields/.
Chicago: "Don Shields." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/don-shields/.
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