St. John's University Athletics
Former St. Johns Star Al McGuire Dies at 72
1/26/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Funeral services are pending. In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested memorials to the Milwaukee Blood Research Foundation. All donations should be mailed to: The Blood Research Foundation, P.O. Box 2178, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201.
I knew Al from my days at DePaul in the early 80s, and I thought very highly of him Associate Vice-President and Director of Athletics Ed Manetta said. Being a St. Johns alum, we had that association, but I always found him to be the type of person who would always find time for you. Al was a great man and will be missed by everyone at St. Johns.
The game of basketball, especially college basketball, has lost one of the great ones, St. Johns Head Coach Mike Jarvis said. It is a tremendous loss personally and to the game, because Al McGuire is one of the nicest people I met.
Ill never forget talking with Al on the NIKE coachs trip a few years ago. He made me and my wife feel very special in his company. He gave us a little figurine that we still have at home today. That memento has even more meaning to us now and we will always cherish it.
McGuire played at St. Johns from 1948-51, under legendary coach Frank McGuire (no relation), and helped guide the team to a three-year record of 65-19, including three NIT appearances and the 1951 NCAA Eastern Regional.
When you coached against him, it was like trying to get Rommel in the desert, you couldnt catch him, former St. Johns Head Coach Lou Carnesecca said. He was always five steps ahead . He brought a new light to coaching. He was innovative and entertaining. He helped to raise the status of coaching by opening up commercial avenues. He was a great, great bench coachI thought he was the best.
In his first season with the team, he finished third on the team in scoring with 8.1 points per game, teaming with his older brother, Dick, to lead SJU to a 15-9 record. The following season, McGuire averaged 7.7 points, leading the team to a 24-5 record and a third place showing in the NIT. As a senior, he was third on the team in scoring (8.5 points per game) as St. Johns went 26-5 and finished in third place in both the NIT and the NCAA Tournament.
Following his graduation, Al began his NBA career with the New York Knicks (1951-54), where he again played with his brother Dick. He began his coaching career at Dartmouth in 1954 as an assistant and was named head coach at Belmont Abbey (N.C.) College in 1957. McGuire coached there for seven years before being named the head coach at Marquette University, where he gained nationwide fame in the coaching ranks. In 13 seasons there, McGuire led the program to 11 postseason tournaments and posted a career record of 295-80, for a winning percentage of .739, which ranks among the top-20 all-time for Division I coaches. He led Marquette to the 1970 NIT title and in 1971 was named Coach of the Year by the Associated Press, United Press International, Sporting News and The United States Basketball Writers Association. In his final season at Marquette, 1976-77, he guided the program to the universitys only NCAA Championship. In 1992, he earned basketballs highest honor when he was elected to the sports Hall of Fame, along with Carnesecca.
McGuire is survived by his wife, Patricia, three children, Alfred C., Noreen L, and Robert G., and six grandchildren.
