James Naismith

1
James Naismith

• How this man changed sports forever!

2
Early Life

• He was born in 1861 in Almonte, Ontario which is
  a small city in Canada. As a kid he was orphaned
  and went to live with his aunt and uncle.
  Although he wasnt scholastically gifted he
  attended Elementary school at Bennies Corners.

3
Fun and Games

• As a kid James enjoyed working on the farm and
  playing games outside. Some examples of these
  games are catch, hide-and-seek and duck on a
  rock. Duck on a rock was a game where a person
  tried to protect a large drake rock from being
  tipped over by smaller rocks that were thrown by
  other people.

4
Later Education

• In 1875 Naismith started High School at Almonte
  High. He attended there for two years before he
  dropped out. He returned in 1881 and finished
  high school. He then attended College at McGill
  University and got a degree in theology.

5
Life After College

• After Naismith finished college he got a job at
  Springfield College in Massachusetts. He was a
  physical education teacher. It was there that he
  was given credit for his greatest invention. He
  then went to the YMCA in Denver as a physical
  instructor. He then went to Kansas University and
  yet again taught physical education.

6
Naismiths Inventions

• A lesser known invention of Naismith is the first
  football helmet. While it isnt proven he
  invented it, its a pretty sure bet that he did.
  James most famous invention though is the modern
  day sport of basketball. The first game played
  was with a soccer ball and peach baskets.

7
James Personal Life

• After James Naismith got a job at McGill
  University he married his wife, Maude E. Sherman,
  in 1894. Together they had five kids. Their names
  were Margret, Helen, John, Maude, and James Jr.
  They lived in Springfield before going to Denver,
  and then Kansas.

8
Coaching Career

• In 1898 James Naismith became the very first head
  coach at the University of Kansas. Although he
  only coached for eight years and finished with a
  record of 55-60 he is regarded as one of the
  greatest head coaches of all time. After he
  finished coaching he became athletic director at
  Kansas. He held the position for 19 years until
  he retired.

9
Later Life

• After Naismith finished his career he wrote a
  book called the Original 13 Rules of Basketball.
  He then died later in the year of 1937, from a
  brain hemorrhage.

10
Bibliography

• deadspin.com/.../2008/03/KansasJayhawks.jpg
• www.stuorg.iastate.edu/ymca/
• www.studentsoftheworld.info/sites/society/img...
• heav.networkats.com/.../images/606_Diploma.JPG
• www.narragansettbeer.com/.../05/naismith.jpg
• Music www.amazon.com