A Coach for Life: the Lyles Alley Collection
Exhibition Dates: August 23 – June 27, 2014
Opening Remarks by Interim President Carl Kohrt
9:30 am on November 9, 2013
Pitts Room, James B. Duke Library
Reception and Open House to follow until 1 pm
The son of Spartanburg sharecroppers, J. Lyles Alley is a man whose life and legacy are intertwined with Furman athletics. As a student in the 1930s, he was a four year letterman in track, baseball, football, and basketball, earning a total of twelve letters in addition to a Furman degree! Over a thirty-three year career at his alma mater, Lyles Alley oversaw 245 Furman athletic victories, coached talented athletes such as basketball’s Frank Selvy and Darrell Floyd, and helped to forge a national reputation for Furman as well as the city of Greenville through his success as head basketball coach in the 1950s.
Special Collection and Archives’ new exhibition, A Coach for Life: the J. Lyles Alley Collection, details Alley’s contributions to Furman, recognizing the longevity of his service to the university as well as the longstanding impact of his style of coaching on his many players. The exhibition is currently on display in the department. Homecoming weekend, November 9, 2013, we will have opening remarks for the exhibition by Interim President Carl Kohrt at 9:30 am and a reception following until 1:00 pm.