Gordon Ridings

Who is Gordon Ridings?

Gordon Ridings was an American college men's basketball coach. He served as head coach at Columbia University from 1946 until 1951 when he suffered a heart attack before the season started, handing over coaching duties to Lou Rossini. Ridings graduated of University of Oregon in 1929, where he was a two-time Northern Division All-Conference selection. Ridings was remembered as one of the first great teachers of defensive basketball. Story has it that Red Auerbach of the Boston Celtics often came to Morningside Heights to learn how to coach defense.