Carlson, "Doc" (Henry C.)
Basketball
b. July 4, 1894, Murray City, OK
d. Nov. 1, 1964
A three-sport star and winner of nine letters at the University of Pittsburgh, Carlson was captain of the undefeated 1917 football team. He played end for the professional Cleveland Indians for one season while studying for his medical degree.
But his fame came as a basketball coach at his alma mater. Carlson began coaching in 1922, while working as a company doctor for Carnegie Steel. He developed the first patterned offense, the "Figure 8," and became the first coach to take his team across the continent in 1931-32, when Pittsburgh went on the road to beat Kansas University, the University of Colorado, Stanford, and Southern California.
His 1927-28 team was undefeated in 21 games and his 1929-30 team had a 23-2 record. Both were selected as national champions by the Helms Athletic Foundation.
Carlson became director of student health services in 1932 and held that position until his retirement in 1964. He coached Pittsburgh through the 1952-53 season, compiling a record of 367 wins and 250 losses.