{{Short description|American basketball player (1934–2016)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox basketball biography | name = Bob McCoy | image = | image_size = | caption = | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 6 | weight_lbs = 210 | birth_date = {{Birth date|1934|11|28}} | birth_place = Longville, Louisiana | death_date = {{Death date and age|2016|7|2|1934|11|28}} | death_place = DeRidder, Louisiana | nationality = American | high_school = Beauregard Parish<br>(DeRidder, Louisiana) | college = Grambling State (1953–1957) | draft_year = 1957 | draft_round = 2 | draft_pick = 10 | draft_team = Detroit Pistons | career_number = | career_position = Forward | cyears1 = 1958–1970 | cteam1 = George Washington Carver HS | highlights = }} '''Robert Lee McCoy''' (November 28, 1934 – July 2, 2016) was an American basketball player and coach. He was born in Longville, Louisiana, and attended Beauregard Parish Training School in nearby DeRidder.<ref name=obit>{{cite web |title=Robert Lee "Coach" McCoy |url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/deridderdaily/obituary.aspx?n=robert-lee-mccoy-coach&pid=180598344&fhid=20685 |website=Legacy.com |accessdate=June 20, 2020}}</ref> McCoy played college basketball for the Grambling State Tigers from 1953 to 1957. He set a Louisiana state record for rebounds in a single game when he grabbed 34 during a 1954 game against Tougaloo College.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bonnette |first1=Louis |title=Grambling Stars Lead Cage Records |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/ruston-daily-leader-dec-25-1974-p-10/?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=128898a47420f582a4c1350616c5ee053105b75c-1592646800-0-AcxJ7dD2HeClK-LfvJPVSjHM5sbgzw-Ugl6vCa9j0zThnfuvuF7rYD8XfhpfAW7mizB3kPirPcGP_zoZaKT_K3_pT44Le6BE4M0hvuae2XOHHjjEPB_vRoQf3VA2HXEi9MJy_6EqOfeBYNTq8JBF1bFc86hMkZPC_oMc5Bj2RiV8rOIPP6ggzKA1-wSG6Ld6Ufyp_aPxrbknj_fUavRIMFgXrsXAwGUMMCqnzWbS7kmP7zbH2291CLhugWGxIi1N2d9WDqZM0GOcjX66xoShi6fTy9kUPZ4x-6OmqWre9u5_v43kYjzs-vKsNqE8Vp8eow |accessdate=June 20, 2020 |work=Ruston Daily Leader |date=December 25, 1974 |page=10}}</ref> McCoy was selected by the Detroit Pistons as the 10th overall pick of the 1957 NBA draft and became the first black player from Louisiana to be drafted into the National Basketball Association (NBA).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Troy |first1=Josh |title=Dale Brown discusses community involvement, coaching experiences |url=https://www.beauregarddailynews.net/article/20090630/NEWS/306309971 |website=Beauregard Daily News |accessdate=June 20, 2020 |date=June 30, 2009}}</ref> Pistons head coach Charley Eckman asserted that "even such a highly regarded prospect as McCoy" would find it difficult to make the team's 10-player roster and McCoy ultimately never played in the NBA.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fuscas |first1=George |title=Piston Draftees Get Orders; Wings Back, Adams Happy |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/97900597/ |accessdate=June 20, 2020 |work=Detroit Free Press |date=September 27, 1957 |page=35}}</ref>
McCoy served in the United States Army from 1957 to 1958.<ref name=obit /> He returned to DeRidder to become a teacher and basketball coach at George Washington Carver High School from 1958 to 1970.<ref name=obit /> He also taught and coached at DeRidder High School and in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana.<ref name=obit />
==References== {{reflist}}
{{1957 NBA draft}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McCoy, Bob}} Category:1934 births Category:2016 deaths Category:American men's basketball coaches Category:American men's basketball players Category:Basketball players from Louisiana Category:Detroit Pistons draft picks Category:Forwards (basketball) Category:Grambling State Tigers men's basketball players Category:High school basketball coaches in Louisiana Category:People from Beauregard Parish, Louisiana Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:20th-century American sportsmen