Born in Tacoma, Washington, in 1900, Needles studied at the University of San Francisco, then known as St. Ignatius College.
Needles also coached Saint Ignatius' football team during this period, leading them to a runner-up spot in the 1928 Far Western Regionals.
Illness forced Needles to resign from Saint Ignatius College in 1932, but he began coaching Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball soon afterwards.
[1] Following the Berlin Olympics, Needles returned to the college ranks, this time at Loyola of Los Angeles, where he mentored future coaches Pete Newell, Phil Woolpert and future Loyola coach Edwin "Scotty" McDonald.
[2] He returned to the University of San Francisco in 1941 as its athletic director and was instrumental in Newell's appointment as head basketball coach in 1946.