JOIN NOW

Forest "Phog" Allen

Get curious about Kansas, one adventure at a time.
BASKETBALL

Forest "Phog" Allen

Lawrence, KS | Douglas County

This longtime KU coach is known as the father of basketball coaching. A bronze statue on the east side of Allen Fieldhouse, which is named for him, provides a brief biography. More can be learned at the Booth Family Hall of Athletics. Allen is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery along the northeast drive in section 13. People routinely leave pennies on his gravestone. In 1936 Allen had started a penny campaign to help fund James Naismith's trip to Berlin so the man who invented basketball could be part of the basketball debut in the Olympics.

Basketball    Cemetery    History    People

Other Destinations You Might Like

Search for your next adventure.

JOIN THE KANSAS EXPLORERS CLUB

Go deeper with every Kansas mile.

Your membership includes:

  • Access to the Trip Planner tool
  • Monthly e-news with tips, events, and offers
  • Invitations to pop-up road trips and member-only experiences
  • A community of people who love Kansas as much as you do
LEARN MORE

EXPLORE MORE IN KANSAS

THANK YOU TO OUR LEAD SPONSORS

Our mission is to preserve and sustain rural culture by educating Kansans about Kansas and networking and supporting rural communities. The goal is to keep every town viable that shows the will and spirit to help itself.
LEARN MORE
Copyright © 2025 Kansas Sampler Foundation.
All rights reserved