Richard Routh coached the Dragons basketball team from 1946-51. His efforts helped guide TU to its first national tournament appearance in any sport. He also led Tiffin to one of its best seasons in 1946-47, as the Dragons finished 18-6. That season still ranks fifth in single season winning percentage. He singlehandedly resurrected athletics and kept the athletic department functioning in the post-World War II era. Often with his own funds, he made sure Dragon basketball took the court. Routh, who died in 1993, was also heavily involved in other area athletic events, such as running the Tiffin Mudhens semipro baseball league in the 1940s, establishing a 32-team fastpitch softball league, working as an official at Harlem Globetrotters games, and placing a car in the 1974 Indy 500 (finishing 16th).

Jon Cartwright (1961-65) was the Dragons first 1000 point scorer (1167 points) and its first four-year athlete. He was a two-time First Team Lake Erie College Conference pick who led the Dragons to two LECC titles (1963-64, 1964-65). He averaged 21 points per game for his career and was one of the cornerstones of the Dragons basketball dynasty in the LECC in the 1960s, leading TU to a 23-14 mark his final two seasons. Cartwright worked part time at National Machinery while attending Tiffin University, and he still works there in his 38th year, serving as Material Stores Manager. He also served in Vietnam in 1968 as a combat medic.

Karl "Fritz" Smith (1960-61, 1963-64, 1965-66) was not the most physically imposing figure on the basketball court. But consider his individual accomplishments and compare them to other post players - averages of 24 points per game and over 10 rebounds per game, 1013 career points, a three-time First Team Lake Erie College Conference pick, an All-American in 1965-66. All three teams he played on won LECC titles, compiling a 41-9 record on the way. His 1965-66 team led the nation in scoring at 110 points per game before the three-point shot, eventually finishing 20-1, the best winning percentage ever for a TU basketball team. Smith founded Smith's Frosted Foods in 1984. He and wife Suzanne have five children, two of whom were All-Americans in football.

Frank Cardo (1980-84) was a three-time First Team Mid-Ohio Conference selection as well as a First Team District 22 pick from 1981-84. He was a Second Team All-American after his junior season in 1982-83. He still ranks third on the Dragons all-time scoring lists with 1611 points, averaging 19 points per game for his career. He was also the leader of one of Tiffin's best teams, the 1981-82 team that finished 20-7 and set the tone for the rest of TU's basketball teams in the 1980s. Cardo currently works as Sales Manager for Advanced Copy Product.