Jim Phelan
Encyclopedia
Jim Phelan was a collegiate basketball
coach for Mount Saint Mary's University
. Jim was a 1951 graduate of La Salle University
and played one season for the Philadelphia Warriors of the NBA. He was famous for wearing a bow tie
on the sidelines.
. He led the Mountaineers to the 1962 NCAA Men's Division II Basketball Championship
. When he retired in 2003, after coaching for 49 years, he amassed 830 wins (overall record of 830-524) in over 1,300 games in all divisions. In those 49 years, 19 of his teams amassed 20 or more wins in a season. Prior to the announcement of his induction in April 2008, Phelan was often noted for having the most victories of any coach not in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
He got his 800th win in the Northeast Conference
Championship Game on March 1, 1999. He became just the 4th coach in NCAA history to get 800 career wins; currently he resides sixth on the all-time list behind Bob Knight, Dean Smith
, Adolph Rupp
, Mike Krzyzewski, and Jim Boeheim
. On January 19, 1998, he became just the 2nd coach in NCAA history to coach in 1,200 career games (The other being Clarence Gaines
); he holds the record in games coached with 1,354 across all NCAA divisions.
, Jack Sullivan, and Jon O'Reilly. An "All Century" team will soon be announced (early 2009) and featured herein. The 1962 team won the school's only national championship, earning the team Hall of Fame induction. Coach Phelan earned his first of two coach of the year awards in '62.
Many players, and some of Phelan's best teams, are featured in the book, "King of the Mount: The Jim Phelan Story." A great treatment of the famed 1980-1981 season is a highlight of the book.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
coach for Mount Saint Mary's University
Mount Saint Mary's University
Mount St. Mary's University, also known as The Mount, is a private, liberal arts, Catholic university in the Catoctin Mountains near Emmitsburg, Maryland. It was founded by French émigré Father John DuBois in 1808 and is the oldest independent Catholic college in the United States...
. Jim was a 1951 graduate of La Salle University
La Salle University
La Salle University is a private, co-educational, Roman Catholic university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Named for St. Jean-Baptiste de La Salle, the school was founded in 1863 by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. As of 2008 the school has approximately 7,554...
and played one season for the Philadelphia Warriors of the NBA. He was famous for wearing a bow tie
Bow tie
The bow tie is a type of men's necktie. It consists of a ribbon of fabric tied around the collar in a symmetrical manner such that the two opposite ends form loops. Ready-tied bow ties are available, in which the distinctive bow is sewn into shape and the band around the neck incorporates a clip....
on the sidelines.
Coaching career
Jim coached his entire career at Mount Saint Mary's UniversityMount Saint Mary's University
Mount St. Mary's University, also known as The Mount, is a private, liberal arts, Catholic university in the Catoctin Mountains near Emmitsburg, Maryland. It was founded by French émigré Father John DuBois in 1808 and is the oldest independent Catholic college in the United States...
. He led the Mountaineers to the 1962 NCAA Men's Division II Basketball Championship
NCAA Men's Division II Basketball Championship
The NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Championship is an annual championship tournament for colleges and universities that are members of NCAA Division II, a grouping of schools in the United States that are generally smaller than the higher-profile institutions of Division I...
. When he retired in 2003, after coaching for 49 years, he amassed 830 wins (overall record of 830-524) in over 1,300 games in all divisions. In those 49 years, 19 of his teams amassed 20 or more wins in a season. Prior to the announcement of his induction in April 2008, Phelan was often noted for having the most victories of any coach not in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
He got his 800th win in the Northeast Conference
Northeast Conference
The Northeast Conference is a college athletic conference whose schools are members of the NCAA. The NCAA designates the Northeast Conference to the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision for Division I Men's Football and to Division I Sports for all other sports.Founded in 1981 as the ECAC-Metro...
Championship Game on March 1, 1999. He became just the 4th coach in NCAA history to get 800 career wins; currently he resides sixth on the all-time list behind Bob Knight, Dean Smith
Dean Smith
Dean Edwards Smith is a retired American head coach of men's college basketball. Originally from Emporia, Kansas, Smith has been called a “coaching legend” by the Basketball Hall of Fame. Smith is best known for his successful 36-year coaching tenure at the University of North Carolina at Chapel...
, Adolph Rupp
Adolph Rupp
Adolph Frederick Rupp was one of the most successful coaches in the history of American college basketball. Rupp is fourth in total victories by a men's NCAA Division I college coach, winning 876 games in 41 years of coaching...
, Mike Krzyzewski, and Jim Boeheim
Jim Boeheim
James Arthur "Jim" Boeheim is the head coach of the men's basketball team at Syracuse University. Boeheim has guided the Orange to eight Big East regular season championships, five Big East Tournament championships, and 28 NCAA Tournament appearances, including three appearances in the national...
. On January 19, 1998, he became just the 2nd coach in NCAA history to coach in 1,200 career games (The other being Clarence Gaines
Clarence Gaines
Clarence Edward "Big House" Gaines, Sr. was a college men's basketball coach with a 47-year coaching career at Winston-Salem State University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.-Early years:...
); he holds the record in games coached with 1,354 across all NCAA divisions.
Coaching Highlights
- 830 wins (6th most all time)
- 1,354 games coached (most all time)
- 5 Final Fours
- 16 NCAA Division II Tournament Appearances
- 2 NCAA Division I Tournament Appearances
- 2 Championship games coached
- 1962 NCAA Division II Champions
- 1962 National Coach of the Year
Prominent Players Coached
Jim is well known for some great players that he's coached. Some notable players he's coached include Fred "Mad Dog" CarterFred Carter
Fredrick James Carter is a former professional basketball player and head coach.A 6' 3" guard from Mount St. Mary's University, Carter was selected by the Baltimore Bullets in the third round of the 1969 NBA Draft...
, Jack Sullivan, and Jon O'Reilly. An "All Century" team will soon be announced (early 2009) and featured herein. The 1962 team won the school's only national championship, earning the team Hall of Fame induction. Coach Phelan earned his first of two coach of the year awards in '62.
Many players, and some of Phelan's best teams, are featured in the book, "King of the Mount: The Jim Phelan Story." A great treatment of the famed 1980-1981 season is a highlight of the book.
Acknowledgments
- Collegeinsider.com http://www.collegeinsider.com, in 2003, renamed its coach of year award the "Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year Award".
- Mount Saint Mary's University has also renamed its court "Jim Phelan Court", complete with his years coached and his signature bow tie painted on each end of the court. A new banner was also revealed in the ARCC Arena (MSMU's home court) with a Phelan bow tie and signifying his 830 wins.
- The Northeast ConferenceNortheast ConferenceThe Northeast Conference is a college athletic conference whose schools are members of the NCAA. The NCAA designates the Northeast Conference to the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision for Division I Men's Football and to Division I Sports for all other sports.Founded in 1981 as the ECAC-Metro...
Coach of the Year award is named after Jim Phelan.
- In November 2008, Phelan was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of FameCollege Basketball ExperienceThe College Basketball Experience featuring the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame is a fan interactive facility located in Kansas City, Missouri...
in Kansas City, MO. Other members of his induction class included Nolan RichardsonNolan RichardsonNolan Richardson is an American basketball head coach, who was elected to the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. He has coached teams to winning a NCAA Men's Division I Basketball National Championship, a NIT, and a Junior College National Championship, the only coach to do so. Most...
(former coach at the University of ArkansasUniversity of ArkansasThe University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
), Charles BarkleyCharles BarkleyCharles Wade Barkley is a former American professional basketball player. Nicknamed "Sir Charles" and "The Round Mound of Rebound", Barkley established himself as one of the National Basketball Association's most dominating power forwards...
(former AuburnAuburn UniversityAuburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
player and NBA veteran), and commentators Billy PackerBilly PackerAnthony William "Billy" Packer is a former American sportscaster for CBS Sports and a published author.-Early life:Packer is a graduate of Liberty High School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania...
and Dick VitaleDick VitaleRichard J. "Dick" Vitale , also known as "Dickie V", is an American basketball sportscaster. A former head coach in the college and professional ranks, he is well-known as a college basketball broadcaster and for the enthusiastic and colorful remarks he makes during games. He is known for his...
. Phelan said of his induction, "It is an honor to be selected for induction. It's a great feeling to be in such a distinguished group of gentlemen."