Rick Majerus
Encyclopedia
Rick Majerus is an American college basketball
coach, and the men's basketball
head coach at Saint Louis University
. He coached previously at Marquette University
(1983–1986), Ball State University
(1987–1989), and the University of Utah
(1989–2004).
in 1966 and then attended Marquette University, where he tried out as a walk-on in the 1967 season. He did not play for Marquette, but stayed on as a student assistant. He graduated in 1970 with a degree in history. He began coaching eighth-graders at St. Sebastian Grade School in Milwaukee, then coached freshmen boys at Marquette University High School. He was an assistant coach with the Marquette Warriors for 12 years under mentor Al McGuire
, until 1977, and under Hank Raymonds
until taking over as head coach in 1983. After three years as head coach at Marquette, and a 56-35 record, he became an assistant coach with the National Basketball Association
's Milwaukee Bucks
for the 1986–87 season. He coached at Ball State during the 1987–88 and 1988–89 seasons, finishing with a record of 43–17.
He was an assistant coach under Don Nelson
for the US national team in the 1994 FIBA World Championship
, winning the gold medal.
Majerus led Utah to the Final Four in 1998, eventually losing to Kentucky
in the National Championship Game. He was greatly affected by the loss, and claims to be able to recite the last six minutes of play of the championship game second by second. While at Utah, he was known for living out of a hotel room, noting that he liked that "There’s clean towels, my bed is turned down every night and there’s a mint on my pillow, no matter what psychological or emotional crisis the maid is going through." He left Utah in January 2004 after 15 seasons and 323 victories in part to get control of his health; he underwent seven vessel bypass surgery to his heart in 1989.
Majerus was known to berate and verbally abuse his players. Lance Allred
, who wrote about it in his autobiography "Longshot", told of his three years at Utah and how Majerus would humiliate him, often targeting his disability--Allred being partially deaf and requiring hearing aids. Allred transferred after the 2001-02 season, but Majerus was later "cleared of any wrongdoing." While at Ball State and Utah,
Majerus was considered a serious candidate for numerous major head coaching positions, including UCLA, St. John's, UNLV, Arizona State
, Notre Dame
, Minnesota
, Texas, Wisconsin, San Diego State
and the NBA’s Golden State Warriors
.
On December 15, 2004, Majerus was hired as coach of the University of Southern California
basketball team; he was to replace interim coach Jim Saia
, who was replacing fired coach Henry Bibby
, with Majerus taking over effective April 1, 2005. His contract was scheduled to pay him $5 million over five years.
Majerus gave an energetic and humorous press conference on the day of his hire, but also noted "I hope I die here. I hope I coach here the rest of my life." In order take the position, he needed to buy himself out of his contract as an analyst for ESPN
. However, Majerus unexpectedly resigned only five days later in a somber, and at times weeping, press conference. He apologized to the university and stated that his health and fitness were not yet at a stage where he thought he could perform his new duties, noting "I wanted this job so bad I was in denial where my health actually is[. . .] I realized [USC] wasn’t getting the guy they hired. I came to that conclusion myself. I’m not fit for this job by my standards." Years later, however, Majerus would claim that the true reason for his change of mind had not been his health, but rather had been his mother's request that he not take the job, which would have meant his relocation to Los Angeles, far removed from her home in Wisconsin.
Majerus worked as a game and studio analyst for ESPN
from 2004–2007. He made the statement while watching the University of Kentucky
play in the 1996 championship that if he saw the actress Ashley Judd
before he went back to the hotel, he would not have to rent a pay per view movie.
Majerus is something of a fan favorite and cult figure around college basketball, known for his portly, rotund figure and his quirky, jovial personality. He enjoys bratwursts, a sausage popular in his native Wisconson.
On April 27, 2007, Majerus accepted the head coaching position at Saint Louis University
. His contract is for six years.
Majerus' mother, Alyce, died on August 6, 2011.
.
*Coached the first six games before undergoing heart surgery. Assistant Joe Cravens
coached the rest of the season.
**Coached the first game before taking a personal leave of absence. Assistant Dick Hunsaker
coached the rest of the season.
***Coached the first 20 games before retiring due to health concerns. Assistant Kerry Rupp
coached the rest of the season.
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
coach, and the men's basketball
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...
head coach at Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University is a private, co-educational Jesuit university located in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1818 by the Most Reverend Louis Guillaume Valentin Dubourg SLU is the oldest university west of the Mississippi River. It is one of 28 member institutions of the...
. He coached previously at Marquette University
Marquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
(1983–1986), Ball State University
Ball State University
Ball State University is a state-run research university located in Muncie, Indiana. It is also known as Ball State or simply BSU.Located on the northwest side of the city, Ball State's campus spans and includes 106 buildings...
(1987–1989), and the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
(1989–2004).
Biography
Majerus graduated from Marquette University High SchoolMarquette University High School
Marquette University High School is a private, all-male, Jesuit, Roman Catholic school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and is a member of both the National Catholic Educational Association and the Jesuit...
in 1966 and then attended Marquette University, where he tried out as a walk-on in the 1967 season. He did not play for Marquette, but stayed on as a student assistant. He graduated in 1970 with a degree in history. He began coaching eighth-graders at St. Sebastian Grade School in Milwaukee, then coached freshmen boys at Marquette University High School. He was an assistant coach with the Marquette Warriors for 12 years under mentor Al McGuire
Al McGuire
Al McGuire was the head coach of the Marquette University men's basketball team from 1964 to 1977. He compiled impressive numbers throughout his coaching career, resulting in his induction to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992, and was also well known for his colorful personality.-Early life:He...
, until 1977, and under Hank Raymonds
Hank Raymonds
Henry C. 'Hank' Raymonds coached the Marquette University men's basketball team from 1977 to 1983. He also was Athletic Director at Marquette from 1977 to 1987.-Early life:...
until taking over as head coach in 1983. After three years as head coach at Marquette, and a 56-35 record, he became an assistant coach with the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
's Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
for the 1986–87 season. He coached at Ball State during the 1987–88 and 1988–89 seasons, finishing with a record of 43–17.
He was an assistant coach under Don Nelson
Don Nelson
Donald Arvid "Don" Nelson is a former NBA player and head coach. He coached the Milwaukee Bucks, the New York Knicks, the Dallas Mavericks, and the Golden State Warriors....
for the US national team in the 1994 FIBA World Championship
1994 FIBA World Championship
The 1994 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Canada from August 4 to August 14, 1994. The tournament was held at SkyDome and Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto as well as at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton...
, winning the gold medal.
Majerus led Utah to the Final Four in 1998, eventually losing to Kentucky
Kentucky Wildcats
The Kentucky Wildcats are the men's and women's intercollegiate athletic squads of the University of Kentucky , a founding member of the Southeastern Conference...
in the National Championship Game. He was greatly affected by the loss, and claims to be able to recite the last six minutes of play of the championship game second by second. While at Utah, he was known for living out of a hotel room, noting that he liked that "There’s clean towels, my bed is turned down every night and there’s a mint on my pillow, no matter what psychological or emotional crisis the maid is going through." He left Utah in January 2004 after 15 seasons and 323 victories in part to get control of his health; he underwent seven vessel bypass surgery to his heart in 1989.
Majerus was known to berate and verbally abuse his players. Lance Allred
Lance Allred
Lance Collin Allred is an American professional basketball player. Allred is hearing impaired, with a 75-80% hearing loss. He is the first legally deaf player in NBA history...
, who wrote about it in his autobiography "Longshot", told of his three years at Utah and how Majerus would humiliate him, often targeting his disability--Allred being partially deaf and requiring hearing aids. Allred transferred after the 2001-02 season, but Majerus was later "cleared of any wrongdoing." While at Ball State and Utah,
Majerus was considered a serious candidate for numerous major head coaching positions, including UCLA, St. John's, UNLV, Arizona State
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
, Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
, Texas, Wisconsin, San Diego State
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
and the NBA’s Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
.
On December 15, 2004, Majerus was hired as coach of the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
basketball team; he was to replace interim coach Jim Saia
Jim Saia
Jim Saia is a men's head basketball coach at Fresno Pacific University.-Coaching career:Prior to his appointment as head basketball coach at Fresno Pacific University on April 5, 2007, Saia was an assistant coach at Citrus College in the 2006-07 season and the interim head coach at the USC between...
, who was replacing fired coach Henry Bibby
Henry Bibby
Charles Henry Bibby is a former professional basketball player who became a coach after his playing days were over.- Playing career :...
, with Majerus taking over effective April 1, 2005. His contract was scheduled to pay him $5 million over five years.
Majerus gave an energetic and humorous press conference on the day of his hire, but also noted "I hope I die here. I hope I coach here the rest of my life." In order take the position, he needed to buy himself out of his contract as an analyst for ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
. However, Majerus unexpectedly resigned only five days later in a somber, and at times weeping, press conference. He apologized to the university and stated that his health and fitness were not yet at a stage where he thought he could perform his new duties, noting "I wanted this job so bad I was in denial where my health actually is
Majerus worked as a game and studio analyst for ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
from 2004–2007. He made the statement while watching the University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
play in the 1996 championship that if he saw the actress Ashley Judd
Ashley Judd
Ashley Judd is an American television and film actress, who has played lead roles in films including Ruby in Paradise, Kiss the Girls, Double Jeopardy, Where the Heart Is and High Crimes...
before he went back to the hotel, he would not have to rent a pay per view movie.
Majerus is something of a fan favorite and cult figure around college basketball, known for his portly, rotund figure and his quirky, jovial personality. He enjoys bratwursts, a sausage popular in his native Wisconson.
On April 27, 2007, Majerus accepted the head coaching position at Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University is a private, co-educational Jesuit university located in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1818 by the Most Reverend Louis Guillaume Valentin Dubourg SLU is the oldest university west of the Mississippi River. It is one of 28 member institutions of the...
. His contract is for six years.
Majerus' mother, Alyce, died on August 6, 2011.
Published works
In 2000, he released an autobiography My Life On a Napkin : Pillow Mints, Playground Dreams and Coaching the Runnin' Utes (ISBN 0-7868-8445-2), co-written by Gene WojciechowskiGene Wojciechowski
Gene Wojciechowski [woj-che-how-ski] is a sports writer, best known for his work with ESPN.Born in Salina, Kansas, Wojciechowski received a bachelor’s degree in communications and journalism from the University of Tennessee and began his career as a sports writer covering college football and...
.
Head coaching record
*Coached the first six games before undergoing heart surgery. Assistant Joe Cravens
Joe Cravens
Joe Cravens is a former men's college basketball coach. During his career, Cravens held the head coaching positions at Weber State University, the University of Idaho, and the University of Utah....
coached the rest of the season.
**Coached the first game before taking a personal leave of absence. Assistant Dick Hunsaker
Dick Hunsaker
Dick Hunsaker is an American college basketball coach and the current head men's basketball coach at Utah Valley University. He is also a former head and assistant coach at Ball State University...
coached the rest of the season.
***Coached the first 20 games before retiring due to health concerns. Assistant Kerry Rupp
Kerry Rupp
Kerry Rupp is an American college basketball coach and the former head men's basketball coach at Louisiana Tech University.-Head coaching record:-External links:*...
coached the rest of the season.
Coaching awards
- WAC Coach of the Year: 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997 (media), 1999
- District Coach of the Year (1991, 1993, 1995, 1996)
- Playboy Magazine Coach of the Year (1992, 1998)
- UPI National Coach of the Year (1991)
- Basketball TimesBasketball TimesBasketball Times is an American basketball magazine that has been in circulation since 1978, and is published by The Hoop Group LLC. Basketball Times publishes monthly and mainly focuses on college basketball and basketball recruiting.- History :...
National Coach of the Year (1991) - Utah Sports Person of the Year (1992 and 1997)
- John Wooden Award (National Coach of the Year) 1998