College Basketball Coach. He was the head basketball coach at Pacific Lutheran University from 1945 to 1958, Washington State University from 1958 to 1971, and the University of Washington from 1971 to 1985. He finished his 40 year coaching career with a combined record of 635 wins and 464 losses, and appeared in five postseason tournaments. He led the WSU Cougars to three second place finishes in the Pacific-8 conference behind John Wooden's legendary UCLA Bruins, and coached the Washington Huskies to four 20 win seasons in Seattle. In 1975 he coached the U.S. national team to the gold medal at the Pan American Games in Mexico City, and served as a member of the United States Olympic Committee from 1975 to 1981. He was named Pacific-8 Coach of the Year in 1976, Pacific-10 Coach of the Year for the years 1982 and 1984, and the Kodak Division One Coach of the Year in 1984. He was an inductee into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1985, the University of Washington Hall of Fame in 1985, the Washington State University Hall of Fame in 1986, the State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame in 1990, and the Pacific Lutheran Hall of Fame in 1990. He retired in 1985 as the seventh winningest coach in college basketball history.
College Basketball Coach. He was the head basketball coach at Pacific Lutheran University from 1945 to 1958, Washington State University from 1958 to 1971, and the University of Washington from 1971 to 1985. He finished his 40 year coaching career with a combined record of 635 wins and 464 losses, and appeared in five postseason tournaments. He led the WSU Cougars to three second place finishes in the Pacific-8 conference behind John Wooden's legendary UCLA Bruins, and coached the Washington Huskies to four 20 win seasons in Seattle. In 1975 he coached the U.S. national team to the gold medal at the Pan American Games in Mexico City, and served as a member of the United States Olympic Committee from 1975 to 1981. He was named Pacific-8 Coach of the Year in 1976, Pacific-10 Coach of the Year for the years 1982 and 1984, and the Kodak Division One Coach of the Year in 1984. He was an inductee into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1985, the University of Washington Hall of Fame in 1985, the Washington State University Hall of Fame in 1986, the State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame in 1990, and the Pacific Lutheran Hall of Fame in 1990. He retired in 1985 as the seventh winningest coach in college basketball history.
Bio by: Nils M. Solsvik Jr.
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