Herbert Niiler

Herbert Aleksander Juhan Niiler (27 April 1905 – 13 April 1982) was an Estonian American basketball player and coach.

Herbert Niiler
Personal information
Born(1905-04-27)27 April 1905
Tallinn
Died13 April 1982(1982-04-13) (aged 76)
Zelienople, Pennsylvania
NationalityEstonian
Career history
As coach:
Tartu NMKÜ
Tartu Kalev
1929–1940Estonia

Niiler was born in Tallinn. He received a degree in physical education from Springfield College in 1928 and then introduced basketball to Estonia. He coached the Estonia men's national basketball team in the 1936 Summer Olympics, where the team placed 9th. He also led Estonia to EuroBasket 1937 and EuroBasket 1939, finishing both in 5th place.

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.

Niiler died at North Hills Passavant Hospital in 1982.

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