Oglethorpe Hall of Fame basketball coach Garland Pinholster passed away Sunday morning at his home in Ball Ground, Georgia. He was 92 years old.

Coach Garland Pinholster

Pinholster compiled a career record of 181-67 over his 10 years in charge of the Oglethorpe men’s basketball program, putting him third on the all-time program wins list. Pinholster Court at Dorough Field House is named in his honor.

Pinholster’s legacy at Oglethorpe also included the innovative “Wheel Offense,” a game changer in basketball, and a 1961 win over Rhode Island—the first integrated college basketball game played in Georgia.

He led his team to a third-place finish at the 1963 NCAA College Division Tournament. The Petrels won the South Central regional title and a national quarterfinal en route to the national semifinals. That same year, he also coached the United States to a gold medal at the Pan American Games in Sao Paulo. His five books on basketball have been translated into four languages.

The first integrated college basketball game in Georgia was played at Oglethorpe University in 1961.

“We would like to send our heartfelt condolences to Coach Pinholster’s family,” said Oglethorpe Director of Athletics Todd Brooks. “His is one of the legendary coaching careers in the history of our university, and he continued to serve as a mentor to our coaches and our community long after his retirement. He will be greatly missed.”

In addition to the Oglethorpe Athletics Hall of Fame, Pinholster is a member of the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame, the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame and the University of North Georgia Athletics Hall of Fame. He attended and played basketball for the latter as an undergraduate, and was a member of the 2020 class for the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony had to be canceled in the spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but will be rescheduled at a later date.

Donations in Pinholster’s memory can be made to Oglethorpe University’s Garland Pinholster Fund for Academic and Athletic Excellence.