Frank McGuire

Frank Joseph McGuire (November 8, 1916 - November 11, 1994) was an American athletic coach who gained his greatest renown in collegiate basketball.

Related Topics:
November 8 - 1916 - November 11 - 1994 - American - Basketball

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Born in New York City as the youngest of thirteen children to NYC police officer Robert McGuire and the former Anne Lynch, his father dying when Frank was only two years old, McGuire graduated from Saint John's University in 1936. He served in the United States Navy during World War II, interrupting his work as a teacher and coach at his high school. Prior to 1947 he also played pro basketball briefly in the American Basketball League; he then became the head basketball and baseball coach at his alma mater. After bringing the baseball team to the College World Series in 1949 and the basketball team to the Final Four in 1952 – becoming one of only three coaches to achieve both accomplishments – he left St. John's to become basketball coach at the University of North Carolina. He guided North Carolina to the 1957 NCAA title, winning the championship game 54-53 in triple overtime against the Wilt Chamberlain-led Kansas team, and finishing the season with a perfect 32-0 record. McGuire later coached Chamberlain as head coach of the Philadelphia Warriors in 1961-62, their last season before moving to San Francisco, California; McGuire resigned rather than move west with the team.

Related Topics:
New York City - Saint John's University - United States Navy - World War II - American Basketball League - Baseball - College World Series - 1949 - Final Four - 1952 - University of North Carolina - 1957 - NCAA title - Wilt Chamberlain - Kansas - Philadelphia Warriors - San Francisco, California

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Following his brief period in the NBA, McGuire became basketball coach at the University of South Carolina in 1964. After having been the first coach to take two schools to the finals of the NCAA basketball tournament, in 1971 he became the second coach – joining Eddie Hickey – to take three different schools to the NCAA tournament. McGuire was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1977, and retired in 1980. He died at age 78 in Columbia, South Carolina.

Related Topics:
NBA - University of South Carolina - 1964 - 1971 - Eddie Hickey - Basketball Hall of Fame - 1977 - Columbia, South Carolina

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