Herbert Niiler


Herbert Aleksander Juhan Niiler was an Estonian American basketball player and coach.
Niiler was born in Tallinn. He received a degree in physical education from Springfield College in 1928 and then introduced basketball to Estonia. He coached the Estonia men's national basketball team in the 1936 Summer Olympics, where the team placed 9th. He also led Estonia to EuroBasket 1937 and EuroBasket 1939, finishing both in 5th place.
In 1945, he fled from the Soviet occupation with his family via Sweden and Germany to the United States, where they resided in Pittsburgh from 1949 onward.
Niiler died at North Hills Passavant Hospital in 1982.

Family

Oceanographer Pearn P. Niiler is his son.