ELVIN LITTLE - COACH

Another Tennessee Vol basketball star took the reins of the basketball team in 1958 and he made an immediate impact on the program by coaching the team to the first State Championship since 1930. His team won 33 games while losing only 2. Coming from a small high school in Princeton, West Virginia where he made All State in both football and basketball, he knew the way to win. Lenoir City continued their winning ways by again going to the State Tournament in 1959, losing in the second round to the eventual state winner. During his time at Lenoir City, he posted a record of 74-21 (78% win record). He later coached for 19 years at Science Hill, Johnson City, Tennessee, where he compiled a 497-114 record (81% win record). He led his teams to 5 appearances in the State Tournament, with his 1967 taking 3rd place and his 1968 team losing in the finals. He later served as Athletic Director and Superintendent of the school. He was elected to his high school Hall of Fame, the Upper East Tennessee Hall of Fame, the TSSAA Coaches Hall of Fame and is a charter member of the Science Hill Hall of Fame of 2007. He is among a select few to have won a State Championship as a player and to have also coached a team to a State Championship. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2007.