Hall of Fame
The Evans Field House icon who put Huskie men's basketball on national map, into Top 20 ratings, and into college meccas such as Chicago Stadium, Madison Square Garden, and The Palestra. Advocate of wide-open offense that ranked No. 3 in NCAA (92.7 and 95.2 ppg.) in consecutive seasons (1970-72). Produced program "firsts"?first 20-win year (21-4 in 1971-72), first triumph vs. Big Ten (Michigan State in 1970-71), first success vs. Top 10 team (No. 5 Indiana in 1971-72), first Top 20 ranking (No. 20 on AP poll in 1971-72), first NBA draftee (Jim Smith in 1969), first Division I league title (Midwestern Conference in 1971-72), and first major-college All-America (Jim Bradley in 1971-72). Coached five NIU individual Hall of Famers (Bradley, Smith, Willie Hanson, Billy Harris, and Jerry Zielinski) and one team (1971-72), five NBA-ABA draft picks, plus five All-Century picks. Posted 96-71 won-lost record in seven years?including five straight winning seasons. Voted Midwestern Conference Coach of Year (1971-72). Enshrined into IBCA Hall of Fame (1977). Played and coached at Michigan. Served as aide under Dave Strack for six years during Cazzie Russell era that produced three Big Ten titles (1963-65) and two NCAA Tournament "Final Four" berths. Started 66 consecutive Wolverine games (1953-56) and averaged 14 ppg. as senior captain. Led Chicago Public League in scoring (30 ppg.), plus made All-City and All-State at Chicago Parker (1951-52). Ex-NBA scout (Charlotte Hornets & Orlando Magic) and ABA Denver Nuggets TV analyst.
