Leon Brogden

Leon Lafayette Brogden Sr. (August 26, 1910 – October 1, 2000) was an American high school football, basketball and baseball coach in Edenton, Wilson and Wilmington, North Carolina. His most famous products are two quarterbacks: Roman Gabriel, who spent 16 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), and Sonny Jurgensen, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983.

Career[]

In 1935, Brogden began his coaching career in Edenton, NC. He would then move to Wilson, NC for nine years and then to in 1945 Wilmington NC where he coached for 30 years.^[1]

While best remembered as a basketball coach, Brogden won 55 state titles across three sports.^[2]

In his book, Multiple Offenses and Defenses, North Carolina Tar Heels coach Dean Smith said that he and his coaches, while scouting, noticed Brogden's New Hanover basketball team using the 1–4 offensive set (one guard high and four players spanning the court at the foul line) and later incorporated that set into their own offenses at North Carolina.

Recognition[]

Brogden was inducted into the Wake Forest University's Sports Hall of Fame in 1974, the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 197 and The Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame in 2006.0^[3][4]

Legacy[]

The main gym of New Hanover High School as well as the county's annual December basketball championship are named after him.^[2]

References[]

External links[]

• Leon Brogden at Find a Grave

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