George Grimshaw (basketball)

George W. "Woody" Grimshaw (September 24, 1919 – October 20, 1974[1]) was an American professional basketball player and coach.

George Grimshaw

Personal information
Born	(1919-09-24)September 24, 1919 England
Died	October 20, 1974(1974-10-20) (aged 50) Methuen, Massachusetts
Nationality	American
Listed height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight	195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school	Dean Academy (Franklin, Massachusetts)
College	Brown (1943–1947)
Playing career	1946–1947
Position	Guard
Number	14
Coaching career	1947–1971
Career history
As player:
1946–1947	Providence Steamrollers
1948–1949	Hartford Hurricanes
As coach:
1947–1950	Puerto Rico
1953–1971	Tufts
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Grimshaw played at Brown University in the 1940s, and was the school's first basketball player to score over 1,000 points.[2] He played one season in the Basketball Association of America for the Providence Steamrollers, averaging 2.9 points per game.[3] Though expected to continue playing professional basketball, he stepped on a nail during the summer of 1947 and an anti-tetanus shot left his arm unavailable for use in playing basketball. Grimshaw was approached by the dean of the University of Puerto Rico to become a coach of the basketball team,[4] and Grimshaw coached there from 1947 to 1950. From 1953 to 1971, he coached basketball at Tufts University.[5]

Grimshaw was later inducted into Brown University's Athletic Hall of Fame.[6] The school's Woody Grimshaw Memorial Award is named in his honor. It is presented to the member of the men's basketball team who "[shows] the most positive attitude and the best spirit".[7]