James Naismith

James Naismith, M.A., M.D., D.D, (November 6, 1861 – November 28, 1939) was the Canadian inventor of the sport of basketball and the first to introduce the use of a helmet in American football. He was also the first basketball coach assembling a team of 5 players.

He was born in Almonte, Ontario, Canada, the eldest son of Scottish immigrants who had arrived in the area in 1851 and worked in the mining industry.