Joe Dan Gold (1996) - Hall of Fame

Joe Dan Gold

Induction:
1996
Class:
1963

Joe Dan Gold was a team captain, an All-SEC honoree and the first State player to claim academic All-America accolades during his senior season in 1962-63. He scored 10 or more points in 54 of 77 games where he averaged double figures during each season.

The Bulldogs collected three consecutive SEC season regular season titles in 1960-61, 1961-62 and 1962-63. State put together a cumulative 65-13 record and made the program’s first NCAA Tournament trip in the historic ‘Game of Change.’ Gold and Loyola’s Jerry Harkness are shown shaking hands in an iconic photo before tipoff.

After his playing career, Gold coached State’s freshmen team for two seasons before being elevated to head coach from 1965-66 to 1969-70. He collected 51 victories and led the Bulldogs to an AP top 10 ranking during the 1966-67 season.

Gold, a native of Benton, Kentucky, passed away in 2011.