Forgotten NBA Champion And Former Larry Bird Teammate Became A Legendary Volleyball Coach

Despite winning an NBA championship as a teammate of Larry Bird, Wayne Kreklow is most famous for his incredible volleyball coaching career.

Sep 18, 2023

6 Min Read

Credit: Fadeaway World

Wayne Kreklow won an NBA title with Larry Bird, despite playing in just 25 games

After leaving the NBA, Kreklow found success as a volleyball coach

Kreklow was named the NAIA Regional Coach of the Year five times

The Boston Celtics of the 1980s were among the best squads ever to step foot on an NBA court. When you think of those teams, Larry Bird’s name quickly comes to mind.

What if I said the name Wayne Kreklow? Does that ring a bell? It likely doesn’t, as Kreklow only played one season in the NBA, but that doesn’t mean Kreklow hasn’t found success.

Kreklow found success as a coach, but not in the sport you think of. Volleyball was the choice of sport in which Kreklow would ultimately be successful.

After leaving the NBA, Kreklow became a volleyball coach, first with Columbia College. This wasn’t necessarily a surprise since Kreklow played volleyball in college when he attended Drake University.

Kreklow quickly found success as a volleyball coach in the 1990s, along with his wife, Susan Kreklow. The tandem led Columbia College to six NAIA National Tournament appearances while winning five regional championships and seven consecutive American Midwest Conference championships.

This includes back-to-back undefeated seasons in 1998 and 1999. Kreklow led his team to an 85–0 record over those two seasons, including 78 consecutive wins at home.

Kreklow and his wife would become the coaches of the University of Missouri volleyball team, and their success would follow. From 2000 to 2019, Kreklow led the University of Missouri to 15 NCAA Tournaments while reaching one Elite Eight and four Sweet 16 appearances.

In 2013 and 2016, Kreklow led his team to win the SEC championships. These two SEC titles remain the only SEC championships won by the University of Missouri in a team sport.

Kreklow retired from coaching in 2019 after compiling a 413-194 record. In that time, Kreklow was named the CVU Honorable Mention Coach of the Year in 2005, SEC Coach of the Year in 2013, and AVCA Southeast Region Coach of the Year in 2013.

Kreklow was also named SEC Coach of the Year in 2016, as well as the AVCA Southeast Region Coach of the Year in 2016. These were just the awards Kreklow won at the University of Missouri.

While at Columbia College, he was named American Midwest Coach of the Year in 1995, 1996, and 1999,

NAIA Regional Coach of the Year in 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999, while also being named NAIA Coach of the Year in 1997 and 1998.

There’s no doubt Kreklow was a successful volleyball coach. In fact, he’s one of the greatest of all time. With all this success in volleyball, what happened to his NBA career?

Kreklow Wins NBA Title As Teammate Of Larry Bird

Wayne Kreklow had a modest college basketball career at Drake University. He averaged 13.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game in four years.

When Kreklow left Drake University, he was the school’s third-leading all-time scorer. Kreklow was originally selected 53rd overall in the third round of the 1979 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics.

The playing career of Kreklow wouldn’t start in 1979 after Boston cut him in training camp. He played in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) for the Maine Lumberjacks before the Celtics called him up for the 1980-81 season.

Kreklow wouldn’t stay with the Celtics long, playing in just 25 games. In those 25 games, Kreklow averaged 1.2 points in 4.0 minutes per game.

Kreklow was eventually waived by the Celtics during the middle of the season. Still, Boston went on to win the 1981 NBA championship, and since he was on the Celtics roster during the season, he’s officially an NBA champion.

Wayne Kreklow may not be well known in the basketball world, but he’s a legend in the volleyball circuit. Kreklow has proven that when life throws walls up in front of your path, sometimes you need to go in a different direction to find success.

That’s exactly what Wayne Kreklow has done. Even though his forgotten basketball career still includes an NBA title.

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TAGGED:Larry Bird Wayne Kreklow

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ByTitan Frey

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Titan Frey is the editor-in-chief and a staff writer for Fadeaway World from York, Pennsylvania. Titan blends his deep passion for basketball and storytelling to oversee the content at Fadeaway World. A prolific writer, Titan has authored several novels, including the award-winning "Players Path." This experience has honed his ability to weave compelling narratives, a skill he applies to his editorial role, ensuring that every piece resonates with basketball lovers and maintains high journalistic standards. His passion for basketball was sparked by Michael Jordan's return to the NBA in 1995, and his allegiance to the Chicago Bulls often inspires his contributions to "Pippen Ain’t Easy," a website dedicated to Bulls-related content. Titan’s specialization in player biographies and retro basketball content allows him to offer unique insights, often reaching out to key sources to secure exclusive information not available elsewhere. One of Titan’s proudest achievements is the biography of Chuck Cooper, the first African American drafted by an NBA team. By collaborating directly with Chuck Cooper III, Titan was able to present a nuanced portrayal that enriched the basketball community’s understanding of Cooper’s impact on the sport. Titan also extends his storytelling prowess to his YouTube channel "HoopsHistory26", where he uses archived footage to bring historical basketball stories to life, engaging a broader audience with his vivid storytelling and authoritative content.Titan's bold predictions and memorable basketball moments also reflect his deep involvement in the sport. He boldly predicts that the Phoenix Suns will part ways with their Big 3 and focus on building around Kevin Durant. Among his cherished memories is attending the unforgettable 2004 game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Indiana Pacers in Philly, where he witnessed Allen Iverson make his first career game-winning shot. These experiences and insights continue to enrich his contributions to Fadeaway World, connecting with readers on a deeply personal level.