Founded in 1918 by the Goodyear Tire Company in Akron, the Wingfoots became one of America's most storied amateur basketball programs. While providing recreational opportunities for workers, the teams also promoted one of the first canvas-and-rubber athletic shoes—the Wingfoot—helping to revolutionize basketball footwear.
The Wingfoots achieved legendary status through their dominance in the industrial league and AAU competition. Their crowning achievement came in 1964 when they captured the National AAU championship by defeating the Phillips 66ers. That same year, the team sent three players—Larry Brown, Pete McCaffrey, and Dick Davies—to the U.S. Olympic team that won gold in Tokyo. Their coach, Hank Vaughn, served as an assistant Olympic coach, making 1964 a historic year with the national championship squad sending both players and the coaching staff to the Olympics.
Nearly 275 players from more than 110 colleges and universities—including 15 from Ohio—wore the Wingfoots uniform throughout the program's history. The roster featured remarkable talent, including Olympic gold medalists Adrian Smith (1960), Davies and McCaffrey (1964), and Cal Fowler and Jim King (1968). Brown later achieved Hall of Fame coaching success, winning NCAA and NBA championships at Kansas and Detroit, respectively. Olympic team alternates included OBHOF Inductee Charlie Slack (1960) and Tom Black (1968).
Multiple OBHOF Inductees played for the Wingfoots, including Jimmy Darrow, Eugene "Middie" Smith, Darrell Hedric, Earl Shaw, Charlie Slack, and Dick Walls. The organization celebrated its 100th Anniversary on April 11-12, 2019, honoring a century of basketball excellence.
