Herbert Aleksander Juhan Niiler (27 April 1905 – 13 April 1982) 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.

Herbert Niiler

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.

Herbert Niiler

Niiler died at North Hills Passavant Hospital in 1982.

Herbert Niiler

Family

Oceanographer Pearn P. Niiler is his son.

References and notes

1905 births

1982 deaths

Basketball players from Tallinn

People from Kreis Harrien

Estonian basketball coaches

Estonian men's basketball players

Estonian expatriate basketball people in the United States

Estonian World War II refugees

Estonian emigrants to the United States

Basketball players from Pittsburgh

Estonia national basketball team coaches