Posted on Sun, Nov. 01, 2009

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Former Shocker coach, player Al Littleton dies

BY PAUL SUELLENTROP

The Wichita Eagle

Positive and soft-spoken, coach Al Littleton guided Wichita State golf teams to some of their best moments.

Mr. Littleton, 83, died on Friday. He spent much of his life playing and instructing the sport. He played at the University of Wichita and coached the Shockers from 1973-82 and 1989-95. WSU won three Missouri Valley Conference titles and played in four NCAA tournaments during his tenure as coach.

"He was a very positive man," said John Loomis, an All-MVC golfer in 1993. "Even when things weren't going well, he kept things upbeat. He was never big on changing our swings. It was more fine-tuning the mental game."

Mr. Littleton, who attended Wichita North, captained the Shockers for four seasons and played in the 1949 NCAA Championships. He finished third in the MVC in 1948 and 1949.

He won the Kansas Amateur twice and served as professional at Crestview Country Club. He also won two Wichita Match Play titles and advanced to the quarterfinals of the National Public Links Golf Championship.

WSU had not won an MVC title since 1946 when Mr. Littleton took over in 1973. The Shockers finished second in 1974 and qualified for the NCAA Championships. In 1977, WSU won the first of three straight MVC titles.

"He was a great mentor," said WSU athletic director Eric Sexton, who worked with Littleton at the WSU golf course in the pro shop and driving carts. "He afforded me the opportunity to play and practice there when I was working. He was a great teacher and a great player. It's a loss for Kansas golf.

"He was a very good golf professional. Had I gone into the business, he's the kind of golf professional I would have liked to been like."

Littleton coached All-Americans Gary Navarro, Don Lee and Rod Nuckolls. WSU finished second in the MVC three times during his second tenure as coach.

"He definitely knew the golf swing," said Brad Majher, a two-time All-MVC selection for Mr, Littleton.

The funeral service for Mr. Littleton will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Downing & Lahey Mortuary East.

Check Paul Suellentrop's Shocker blog at blogs.kansas.com/shockwaves. Reach him at 316-269-6760 or psuellentrop@wichitaeagle.com.

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