Don Van Pool NW Classen High School 1968-69 Basketball Plaque Skip Bayless Okla.

This is a 1968-69 High School Basketball Northwest Classen Knights Mid-State Conference Champions plaque that belonged to Oklahoma Coaches Hall of Famer, and NW Classen head coach Don Van Pool.

The top of the plaque has the following text: 

Northwest Classen Knights

Mid - State Conference

1968 - 1969

Champions

22-2

Coach Don Van Pool

Steve Mitchell

John Cheatham

Ben Byers

Craig Dawkins

Paul Skaggs

Bob Bergmann

Glenn Ashmore

Harley Ballew

Mike Buchanan

Ron Raunborg

Bruce Scott

Skip Bayless

Tony Robinson

Jerry Waugh

Graig Blair

Donnie Van Pool

Frank Allen

Leon Meyers

Bob Fairchild

Some notable players on this team include sports columnist and commentator Skip Bayless (ESPN's First Take and Fox's "Skip and Shannon: Undisputed") and Don Van Pool, Jr, who would follow in his father's footsteps in coaching high school basketball.

The size of the plaque is approximately 9" x 12".  Back of plaque has a label from Classic Trophy Co of Oklahoma City.

Condition: the plaque plates have some minor scratches and wear.  The wood base appears to be in good condition. See photos for condition closeups.

This item came from Coach Van Pool's widow's estate.

Don Van Pool was born in Geuda Springs, Kansas in 1927.  His family moved to Newkirk, Oklahoma when he was a child.  In 1940, they moved to Oklahoma City and he attended Capitol Hill High School, where he lettered in four sports and made All State in football in 1944.  Don played football for Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State Cowboys) and was on their 1945 national championship team.  His tenure there was interrupted by serving in the military and he was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the 1950 NFL Draft.

Van Pool would soon go into coaching at the high school level, serving at Capitol Hill, Crooked Oak, Choctaw, Northwest Classen, and Moore.  As head basketball coach, he led the Northwest Classen Knights to state championships in 1964, 1965, and 1968.  He received many honors, including state Coach of the Year in 1964.  In 1983, Don was inducted into the Oklahoma Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He would also be inducted into the Capitol Hill Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Boys Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame. In 2002, the gymnasium at Northwest Classen was named in his honor.

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