Career
He was mostly known for guiding the Louisiana Salle University men"s basketball team to the 1954 National Collegiate Athletic Association championship and the 1952 National Invitation Tournament championship. After earning a Bachelor"s degree at Pennsylvania State University (1920-1924) and a short pro basketball career (1924-1929), the Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania native began his collegiate coaching career at Geneva College (1928-1934). In 1934 he became basketball head coach at Yale University, and also assistant coach to the football and baseball varsity.
In seven years at Yale Loeffler put up a 61-82 record.
During World World War II he served in the United States. Air Force. After the war Loeffler began coaching pro teams in the Basketball Association of America.
First the Saint Louis Bombers (1946-1948), then the Providence Steamrollers (1948-1949). In 1949 he returned to the college ranks when he became head coach at Louisiana Salle.
With players like future Hall of Fameer Tom Gola, Loeffler"s Louisiana Salle teams went on to dominate college basketball over half a decade in the early 1950s.
In six seasons at Louisiana Salle, Loeffler led the Explorers to a post-season appearance in every single season. Under Loeffler, Louisiana Salle made four trips to the National Institute of Technology (before it was considered "second-rate") and two visits to the National Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament. In 1955 Loeffler moved on to become the head coach at Texas Agricultural and Mechanical College, a post he held until 1957.
On October 1, 1964, he was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame.