Edgar Allen Diddle (March 12, 1895 – January 2, 1970) was an American college men's basketball coach, who also coached college football and baseball teams. He is known for coaching at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky from 1922 to 1964.

Diddle was one of the first proponents of the fast-break style of basketball and the tremendous success of his early teams helped to popularize and spread this style of play all across the country.

E.A. Diddle arrived at WKU in 1922. He was initially athletic director and coach of all sports. As the Hilltoppers' men's basketball coach from 1922 to 1964, he compiled a career record of 759 victories and 302 defeats and took his teams to ten OVC championships, eight National Invitational Tournaments and three National Collegiate Athletic ...

Namesake - E.A. Diddle: Edgar Allen Diddle was born at Gradyville, Kentucky March 12, 1895 to John A. and Mary Elizabeth Hughes Diddle. After his early education at Columbia, Kentucky, Diddle entered Centre College at Danville in 1915 where he excelled in football and basketball.

Sep 18, 2019 · Even 50 years after his death, Coach E.A. Diddle remains one of the most successful coaches in the history of college sports. A pioneer of the fast break and one of the winningest coaches in college basketball history, Diddle had a gift for spotting unpolished talent and molding them into outstanding athletes who often exceeded expectations.

Biographical/Historical Note: Edgar Allen Diddle was born near Gradyville in Adair County, Kentucky on March 12, 1895 to John Haskins and Mary Elizabeth (Hughes) Diddle. He attended Centre College in Danville from 1915 to 1917, entered the U.S. Army, then returned to Centre for a …

Edgar Allen Diddle was born on a small farm near Gradyville in Adair County, KY, on March 12, 1895. Growing up as one of five boys, Diddle developed into a fine athlete and played all sports at nearby Columbia High School.

E.A. Diddle. Born: March 12, 1895. Alma Mater: Centre (1921) Career Record (major schools): 42 Years, 759-302, .715 W-L% School: Western Kentucky (759-302) Conference Champion: 10 Times (Reg. Seas.), 4 Times (Tourn.) NCAA Tournament: 3 Years (3-4), 0 Final Fours, 0 Championships. More info

E.A. Diddle came to WKU in 1922 as athletic director. He coached the football team through 1929 and the baseball team until 1957. But as most people know, he came to fame waving a red towel while coaching the Hilltopper basketball team to a 759-302 career record.

Jan 22, 2024 · It features an iconic red towel, an homage to the one famously used by legendary basketball coach Edgar Allen Diddle, for whom WKU’s impressive basketball arena is named. In 1922, Diddle became the head coach of what was then called the Western Kentucky State Normal School, remaining at the helm for 42 incredibly successful years.