March 9, 2012

LAWRENCE, Kan. - Charlie Hoag, a four-sport standout at the University of Kansas in the early 1950s, died Thursday evening at KU Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan. Hoag was 81.

Hoag, from Oak Park, Ill., played football, basketball, baseball and competed in track and field while at KU from 1950-53. 

In men's basketball he played for Phog Allen for two seasons, in 1950-51 and 1951-52. In 1952, Hoag aided the Jayhawks to a Big Seven Conference Championship and the NCAA National Championship in basketball. He had nine points and four rebounds in KU's NCAA title victory against St. John's. Later that summer, Hoag was one of seven Jayhawks who participated for the United States gold medal-winning team at the Olympics in Helsinki, Finland.

A two-time Big Seven All-Conference halfback in 1950 and 1952, Hoag was a captain on the 1952 Jayhawk football squad. His season turned for the worst when he was injured on a play versus Kansas State. The injury ended his basketball career as well at KU, yet Hoag would be drafted by the Cleveland Browns of the NFL in 1953. His freshman year, 1950-51, Hoag played baseball and was a discus thrower at Kansas.