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Nine years under Head Coach Rick Majerus has entrenched the University of Utah in the nation's basketball power structure. Majerus, the winningest Utah basketball coach in modern times (210-59, .781 winning percentage), has led the Utes to unprecedented success. That fact was crystallized when Majerus led his 1997-98 Utes to the NCAA "Final Four" where they beat number one ranked North Carolina in the semi-finals to advance to the final game. It was the first time since 1944 a Ute team had made it to an NCAA Championship game. In the 89-year history of Utah basketball, the Utes have never enjoyed a nine-year stretch like the Majerus tenure.
Despite the fact Majerus coached just six games in his first season, due to heart surgery, his clubs have averaged 23 wins per year during that time. His seven postseason appearances (six NCAA) is a school coaching benchmark. Never before has a Ute team advanced to the Sweet 16 four times in a seven-year span. Majerus' teams own six Western Athletic Conference championships, including the last four (this year's was a Mountain Division title)_a feat never before achieved at Utah. In 1996-97, his Utes captured both the Mountain Division crown and the WAC Tournament title. This year, Utah repeated as the WAC Mountain Division champion with a 12-2 record.
Majerus' success goes far beyond the conference level. In six trips to the NCAA as Utah's coach, he has yet to lose a first round game. Utah, Kentucky and Arizona are the only teams to make the Sweet Sixteen in each of the last three years. For the second straight year, Majerus led his team into the Elite Eight. For the last two years, his teams have taken up permanent residence in the Top-10. He coached this year's team to Utah's first Final Four berth in 22 years. Actually, it is his second "Final Four" of some sort at Utah. In 1992, Utah made the Final Four of the National Invitational Tournament.
In terms of wins and losses, Majerus has few peers. His .736 winning percentage is 13th among active NCAA coaches and ranks 27th all-time. In 1990-91, Majerus' first full season as Utah's head coach, he simply led the Utes to the best record in school history (30-4). A mark the 1997-98 bunch equaled. Take away his heart surgery shortened debut season and Majerus has averaged 26 wins per season in the last eight years! Majerus' feats have earned him national recognition and respect. The three-time WAC Coach of the Year (1991, '93, '95), was tapped for national honors in 1991 (Basketball Times' and UPI Coach of the Year) and 1992 (Playboy Coach of the Year). He received Playboy National Coach of the Year honors again in 1998. He is also a six-time District Coach of the Year.
In a previous two-year stint with Ball State, Majerus received The Hoop Scoop Coach of the Year honors in 1988-89. Most recently, the WAC media voted him Mountain Division Coach of the Year in 1996-97. He also was voted the John Wooden National Coach of the Year for 1997-98 by the Utah Tip Off Club. Success has followed Majerus at all of his stops. His head coaching career began at Marquette, where he compiled a 56-35 record from 1983-86 and took his teams to three NIT Tournaments. He preceded his Utah tenure with a successful two-year stint at Ball State, where he logged a 43-17 mark, including a 29-3 record and an NCAA 2nd Round berth in 1988-89. He was an accomplished assistant coach before making the jump to the top seat.
In 12 years as an assistant at Marquette (1972-83), Majerus was part of 11 NCAA Tournament teams. Marquette won the NCAA Championship in 1976-77. The veteran coach also spent a year in the National Basketball Association as an assistant to Don Nelson. The Milwaukee Bucks posted a 50-32 record and made the NBA playoffs during Majerus' year on the bench (1986-87). Majerus has an international resume, as well. He served during the summer of 1997 as the head coach of the USA Basketball Men's 22 and under team that will compete in the World Championships this August in Melbourne, Australia. He spent the summer of 1994 as an assistant coach to Don Nelson for the USA "Dream Team 2, which featured the top NBA players in the Men's World Basketball Championships in Toronto. Majerus' reach extends into the classroom.
In his time at Utah, 86 players have made the honor roll, including nine winter quarter and seven spring quarter. Michael Doleac was named to the 1998 GTE Academic All-America first team, while Drew Hansen made the third team. The Utes were the only school with two players on the 1998 GTE Academic All-America squad. Hansen also won the 1997 Playboy Magazine Anson Mount Scholar/Athlete Award for basketball, was a Rhodes Scholar candidate and was a finalist for the Walter Byers Award, the highest academic award given by the NCAA. The 1997-98 Utes racked up an excellent 3.31 team GPA spring quarter. Born on Feb. 17, 1948, the 50-year-old Majerus is a Sheboygan, Wis., native. He graduated from Marquette in 1970 with a bachelor's degree in history. He received a master's, also from Marquette, in 1979 in guidance and counseling.
The Majerus File
Hometown: Sheboygan, Wis.
Date of Birth: February 17, 1948
Alma Mater: Marquette
Undergraduate Degree: 1970, bachelor's in history (Marquette)
Post-graduate Degree: 1979, master's in guidance and counseling
(Marquette)
Coaching Highlights
1971-83: Assistant Coach, Marquette. Marquette went to 11 NCAA
Tournaments and won the 1977 NCAA Championship. 1983-86: Head Coach,
Marquette. Took Marquette to three NIT Tournaments. 1986-87: Assistant
Coach, Milwaukee Bucks. Went to NBA Playoffs. 1987-89: Head Coach,
Ball State. Ball State went 29-3 his second year and made it to the
second round of the NCAA Tournament: 1989-present: Head Coach, Utah.
Utah has gone to six NCAA Tournaments under Majerus reaching the NCAA
Championship Game in 1998. He has made the "Sweet Sixteen" three
times, the "Elite Eight" twice and the "Final Four" once. Utah also
owns one NIT "Final Four" appearance and six WAC Championships (1998
was Mountain Division title). Majerus has averaged 23 wins a year.
Utah won both the WAC Mountain Division and the WAC Tournament in
1996-97. 1997 (summer): Head coach of USA Basketball Men's 22 and
under team.
Honors
John Wooden National Coach of the Year (1998)
WAC Coach of the Year: 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997 (media)
District Coach of the Year: 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998
Playboy Coach of the Year: 1992, 1998
UPI National Coach of the Year: 1991
Basketball Times National Coach of the Year: 1991
Utah Sports Person of the Year: 1992
Member John Wooden Award Board of Governors
RICK'S RECORD
YEAR TEAM RECORD WAC FINISH POSTSEASON
1997-98 Utah 30-4 1st# NCAA Championship Game
1996-97 Utah 29-4 1st NCAA "Elite 8"
1995-96 Utah 27-7 1st NCAA "Sweet 16"
1994-95 Utah 28-6 1st NCAA 2nd Round
1993-94 Utah 14-14 5th (tie)
1992-93 Utah 24-7 1st NCAA 2nd Round
1991-92 Utah 24-11 4th NIT "Final Four"
1990-91 Utah 30-4 1st NCAA "Sweet 16"
1989-90 Utah 4-2* 6th (tie)
1988-89 Ball State 29-3 -- NCAA 2nd Round
1987-88 Ball State 14-14 --
1985-86 Marquette 19-11 -- NIT
1984-85 Marquette 20-11 -- NIT
1983-84 Marquette 17-13 -- NIT
______________________________________________________________________
Utah Total 210-59 (.781), 9 years
Career Total 309-111 (.736), 14 years
*Majerus missed most of season due to heart surgery
RICK AS AN ASSISTANT COACH
YEAR TEAM POSITION HEAD COACH RECORD POSTSEASON
1986-87 MILWAUKEE BUCKS Assistant Coach Don Nelson 50-32 NBA Playoffs
1982-83 MARQUETTE Assistant Coach Hank Raymonds 19-10 NCAA
1981-82 MARQUETTE Assistant Coach Hank Raymonds 23-9 NCAA
1980-81 MARQUETTE Assistant Coach Hank Raymonds 20-11 NIT
1979-80 MARQUETTE Assistant Coach Hank Raymonds 18-9 NCAA
1978-79 MARQUETTE Assistant Coach Hank Raymonds 22-7 NCAA
1977-78 MARQUETTE Assistant Coach Hank Raymonds 24-4 NCAA
1976-77 MARQUETTE Assistant Coach Al McGuire 25-7 NCAA#
1975-76 MARQUETTE Assistant Coach Al McGuire 27-2 NCAA
1974-75 MARQUETTE Assistant Coach Al McGuire 23-4 NCAA
1973-74 MARQUETTE Assistant Coach Al McGuire 26-5 NCAA
1972-73 MARQUETTE Assistant Coach Al McGuire 25-4 NCAA
1971-72 MARQUETTE Assistant Coach Al McGuire 25-4 NCAA
#NCAA CHAMPIONS
RECORD AS AN ASSISTANT COACH: 327-108 (13 years)
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT RICK
AL MCGUIRE
Broadcaster
"Rick came out of the woodwork. He's definitely a coach of the '90s. He is in
the next wave of the great college coaches. Twenty-four hours a day, 365 days
a year, if you want Rick to smile, talk basketball. He is outstanding and
whatever he gets he deserves because he has definitely paid the price. His
knowledge is five years ahead of the game. The dedication, the work, the
interest, it's all there."
FRANK LAYDEN
President, Utah Jazz
"This may sound crazy, but I have been in college and pro basketball for
close to 40 years and Rick Majerus is the best coach I have ever seen in
practice in preparing his team for a game. He is also one of the best bench
coaches around."
JERRY SLOAN
Head Coach, Utah Jazz
"I've known Rick for about 20 years. I first met him through basketball camps
and, watching him then, I knew he was going to be a great coach and he
certainly has proven that. I think he does a terrific job with his players.
He spends a lot of time with them on the floor as well as off."
RICK HALL
Political Science/Accounting Major at Ball State
Rhodes Scholar Candidate
Walter Byers Award Winner
"Academics always came first whenever there was a situation between school
and basketball. Coach Majerus always put the team first and wanted the team
to go before the individual. I think that's why our record was what it was.
He cares about his players as people and wants to make sure the players have
a nice life after basketball and that they're prepared for life."
DEL HARRIS
Head Coach, Los Angeles Lakers
"Rick Majerus has earned a reputation of being an encyclopedia of technical
basketball knowledge. When we worked together at the Milwaukee Bucks, I
learned why he has gained this distinction. His biggest strength, however,
is his loyalty to and concern for his players and his school."
SHAQUILLE O'NEAL
Los Angeles Lakers
"Rick is definitely one of the best coaches in the country. He's the kind of
coach that stresses discipline. It was a great opportunity to work with and
learn from him (in the summer of 1994) at the World Championship of
Basketball games."
P.J. CARLESIMO
Head Coach, Golden State Warriors
"Rick is an outstanding coach who has a special ability to teach the game of
basketball. More importantly, he genuinely cares about his players and is a
great teacher off the floor as well. I am very proud to call this great
coach a friend."
GEORGE KARL
Head Coach, Seattle Supersonics
"Rick is one of the great college basketball coaches when it comes to caring
about his players' needs, development and academics. As far as putting a
basketball team on the court, he has a tremendous basketball feel at both
ends of the floor and he makes the game fun for the players."
DICK VITALE
ABC/ESPN
"Rick has the one great asset that you need to survive in college coaching
today--the ability to communicate. He is a tremendous communicator, a
salesman. He sells the Utah program. Every time I'm with him he is talking
about Utah basketball in such a positive way. He has great energy and
excitement. He knows how to win, he knows how to run a program. He can
compete with anyone."
BYRON WILSON
Ute Player
1991-1993
"He demands hard work but he wants the best for his players. Coach Majerus
is a great teacher of the game. A lot of the things he teaches are the same
things the NBA coaches teach. He wants you to do well on the court as well as
in the classroom."
RICK PITINO
Head Coach, Boston Celtics
"Rick Majerus is one of the fine college basketball coaches in the country.
He is an excellent coach on the court as well as very entertaining off it."
