| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1863-12-17)December 17, 1863 Wales |
| Died | December 24, 1930(1930-12-24) (aged 67) Charlottesville, Virginia, U.S. |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| Basketball | |
| 1905–1929 | Virginia |
| Baseball | |
| 1918 | Virginia |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 254–95–1 (basketball) 7–4 (baseball) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| Basketball 1SoCon regular season (1922) | |
Henry Hayden Lannigan (December 17, 1863 – December 24, 1930), known asPop Lannigan, was aWelshman andimmigrant to the United States who was the first head coach inVirginia Cavaliers basketball history from 1905 to 1929 and one of the "most noted athletic trainers in the East."[1][2] He accumulated a dominant overall record of 254–95 (.728) over twenty-four seasons as the UVA head coach. During his tenure he also made the Cavalier track program nationally known while simultaneously starting the school'scollege basketball and collegeboxing programs. He came to Virginia after serving fourteen years as the Athletics Director ofCornell University.[1]
Lannigan's ability was highly renowned throughout theeastern seaboard andsouthern United States, and his services were in high demand at many leading universities of both regions.[1] Lannigan, however, remained loyal to theUniversity of Virginia until he was forced into retirement by a severe illness to which he succumbed after several months.[1]
Lannigan was a renownedcollege basketball coach in the early years of the sport.[1] His team achieved a perfect record of 17–0 in the 1914–15 season, and posted an undefeated conference record in the oldSouthern Conference's inaugural year of 1921–22. In the 1924–25 season, his team nearly doubled upKentucky, 29–16, after being invited to play against the Wildcats in their brand newAlumni Gymnasium.[1] It was one of only 24 times the Kentucky team ever lost in that gym. Yet his Cavaliers defeated Kentucky again, 31–28, when they returned the favor to visitMemorial Gymnasium in 1928.[1]
Lannigan earlier coached "the Arkansas Flash,"James Rector, intrack and field events.[1] While still a UVA student, Rector fell just six inches short of winning the100 meter dash of the1908 Olympic Games inLondon, England.[1] Rector was also a Virginia star on itscollege football andcollege baseball teams.[1]
Lannigan fell ill at the age of 65 and immediately retired from coaching. For many months he then underwent treatment at theUnited States Naval Hospital inPortsmouth, Virginia.[1] For the last two months of his life he had returned to his home inCharlottesville and for his last week theUniversity of Virginia Hospital.[1][3] His funeral was held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church across the street fromThe Rotunda.[1] Lannigan is buried in theUniversity of Virginia Cemetery and Columbarium.
The current venue used by the Cavalier track and field teams, Lannigan Field, is named in his honor.
Lannigan married Ms. Helen White ofBakersfield, Vermont.[1] He left behind two daughters, one who worked at the University of Virginia and one who lived inNew York City. Henry was also survived by one son Raymond Angus Lannigan I from his first wife Sarah Dutton Lannigan. He was also survived by four brothers and a sister.[1]
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