WVU Sports Hall of Fame

Inducted: 2010

Written by Bryan Messerly

A native of Wheeling, W.Va., Bobby Carroll was a four-year letterman in basketball from 1945-48, serving as captain of the 1946 squad. Carroll led the Mountaineers in scoring during his freshman season, averaging 12.2 points per game. He scored a career-high 22 points against Ashford General Army Hospital in 1945.

Carroll tallied 698 points during his career, averaging 8.4 points per contest. He played in 83 contests, starting 50 of those games. He led the Mountaineers to three consecutive NIT appearances from 1945-47. He earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from WVU in 1948 and his master’s degree in physical education from WVU in 1952.

After graduating from WVU, he became a teacher in Wheeling, W.Va. He taught at Madison Junior High and was a volunteer assistant for the Wheeling High basketball team under coach Everett Brinkman. Following his stint there, he moved on to teach at Bridgeport (Ohio) High (1955-62) and was the basketball coach from 1957-62, where he coached Hall of Famer John Havlicek. Carroll then became the head coach of Strongsville (Ohio) High, and then took the position of athletic director and head basketball coach at Twinsburg (Ohio) High. In 1968, he was named Chagrin Valley Coach of the Year, and two years later, he was named the 1970 Ohio High School Athletic Association Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year. Carroll also was inducted into the association's hall of fame.

He is married to Emily Barth Carroll, who also received her master's degree from WVU. The couple has two children, Bob Jr., and Beth, and three grandchildren. The couple resides in Scottsdale, Ariz.