| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 27 April 1905 Tallinn |
| Died | 13 April 1982 (aged 76) Zelienople, Pennsylvania |
| Nationality | Estonian |
| Career history | |
| As coach: | |
| Tartu NMKÜ | |
| Tartu Kalev | |
| 1929–1940 | Estonia |
Herbert Aleksander Juhan Niiler (27 April 1905 – 13 April 1982) was an Estonian American basketball player and coach.
Niiler was born in Tallinn.[1] He received a degree in physical education from Springfield College in 1928[2] and then introduced basketball to Estonia.[1] He coached the Estonia men's national basketball team in the 1936 Summer Olympics,[1] where the team placed 9th. He also led Estonia to EuroBasket 1937 and EuroBasket 1939, finishing both in 5th place.[3]
In 1945, he fled from the Soviet occupation with his family via Sweden and Germany to the United States, where they resided in Pittsburgh from 1949 onward.[2][4]
Niiler died at North Hills Passavant Hospital in 1982.[1]
- ^ a b c d "Herbert Niiler, 76, Dies, Ex-Official of Youth Camp". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, PA. April 16, 1982. p. 23. Retrieved March 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "DP Life Over, Family of 9 to Stay Here". Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph. Pittsburgh, PA. October 15, 1949. p. 3. Retrieved March 14, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Season 1939". FIBA Europe. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
- ^ "NIILER, HERBERT". ESBL. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
