George Ernest Killian (April 6, 1924 – December 6, 2017) was an American sports administrator, president of the

International University Sports Federation The Fédération Internationale du Sport Universitaire (FISU, en, International University Sports Federation) is responsible for the organization and governance of worldwide sports competitions for student-athletes between the ages of 17 and 25. ...

(FISU) and the

International Basketball Federation The International Basketball Federation (FIBA ; French: ) is an association of national organizations which governs the sport of basketball worldwide. Originally known as the (hence FIBA), in 1989 it dropped the word ''amateur'' from its na ...

(FIBA) After receiving his

Bachelor of Science A Bachelor of Science (BS, BSc, SB, or ScB; from the Latin ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for programs that generally last three to five years. The first university to admit a student to the degree of Bachelor of Science was the University of ...

degree in education from the

Ohio Northern University Ohio Northern University (Ohio Northern or ONU) is a private United Methodist Church–affiliated university in Ada, Ohio. Founded by Henry Solomon Lehr in 1871, ONU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. It offers over 60 programs to ...

in 1949, Killian obtained a

Master's degree A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice.

in Education from the

University at Buffalo The State University of New York at Buffalo, commonly called the University at Buffalo (UB) and sometimes called SUNY Buffalo, is a public research university with campuses in Buffalo and Amherst, New York. The university was founded in 1846 ...

, N.Y. in 1954. The Ohio Northern University honored him in 1989 with a PhD in Public Service. Killian coached

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...

teams of Wharton High School between 1949 and 1951 and Erie Community College, Buffalo, N.Y. from 1954 to 1969. He was president of the international basketball federation

FIBA The International Basketball Federation (FIBA ; French: ) is an association of national organizations which governs the sport of basketball worldwide. Originally known as the (hence FIBA), in 1989 it dropped the word ''amateur'' from its na ...

between 1990 and 1998. In 1996, he was member of the

International Olympic Committee The International Olympic Committee (IOC; french: link=no, Comité international olympique, ''CIO'') is a non-governmental sports organisation based in Lausanne, Switzerland. It is constituted in the form of an association under the Swiss ...

in his capacity as president of FIBA. Killian served also as treasurer of COPABA, Panamaerican Basketball Confederation and director of the NJCAA,

National Junior College Athletic Association The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), founded in 1938, is the governing association of community college, state college and junior college athletics throughout the United States. Currently the NJCAA holds 24 separate regions ...

. After presiding the US delegation at the

Universiade The Universiade is an international multi-sport event, organized for university athletes by the International University Sports Federation (FISU). The name is a portmanteau of the words "University" and "Olympiad". The Universiade is referred t ...

s three times, Killian held office in FISU. He was member of the International Control Commission from 1975 to 1987. Then, he was elected vice president of FISU. In 1995, Killian was promoted to First Vice President. On November 26, 1999, he was confirmed as FISU President by the executive committee succeeding late Dr. Primo Nebiolo. On August 5, 2007, Killian was reelected for a second full term as president of FISU by an overwhelming majority of the votes at FISU's 30th General Assembly, which was held in Bangkok, Thailand. On August 9, 2011, he was replaced by Claude-Louis Gallien as FISU President. Accomplishments: *President of the

(FISU) – 1999–2011 *President of the

(FIBA) – 1990–1998 *Member of the

(IOC) – 1996–1998 *President of the

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 1000 Hall of Fame Avenue in Springfield, Massachusetts. It serves as basketball's most complete library, in addition to promoting and pres ...

– 1977–1978 *Board of trustees of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame – 1969–2004 *Award winner – Men's Naismith Outstanding Contribution to Basketball – 2004 *Inductee to the

Women's Basketball Hall of Fame The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame honors those who have contributed to the sport of women's basketball. The Hall of Fame opened in 1999 in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. It is the only facility of its kind dedicated to all levels of women's bask ...

– 2000 Awards: *Ohio Northern University Athletic Hall of Fame – 1979 *W.P. Fehring Award of Merit from the U.S. Baseball Federation – 1982 *NJCAA Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame – 1987 *NJCAA Basketball Hall of Fame – 1988 * John W. Bunn Award from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame – 1989 *Gold Medal Award from the Basketball Federation of Poland – 1998 *

FIBA Order of Merit FIBA Order of Merit is an international basketball award that is awarded by FIBA, the international basketball federation. The award is given to individuals that have made very significant individual contributions to furthering the sport of basket ...

– 2000 *

FIBA Hall of Fame The FIBA Hall of Fame, or FIBA Basketball Hall of Fame, honors players, coaches, teams, referees, and administrators who have greatly contributed to international competitive basketball. It was established by FIBA, in 1991. It includes the " Samar ...

- 2010 Former Volunteer Positions: *Secretary/Treasurer – U.S. Track and Field Federation *Board of Directors – U.S. Gymnastics Federation, Basketball Federation of the US, Amateur Basketball *Association of the US, U.S. Wrestling Federations *U.S. Olympic Administrative Committee

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Killian, George E. 1924 births 2017 deaths American women's basketball coaches High school basketball coaches in the United States FIBA Hall of Fame inductees University at Buffalo alumni Ohio Northern University alumni People from Valley Stream, New York Erie Kats men's basketball coaches Junior college athletic directors in the United States