Philadelphia University Coach Herb Magee Makes History With 1,000th Win

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 7, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Herb Magee, Philadelphia University's legendary men's basketball head coach, earned his 1,000th career victory in front of an exuberant home town crowd on Feb. 7 as the Rams beat Post University 80-60.

With his latest win, Magee became the first DII men's basketball coach and only the second men's basketball coach in NCAA history to reach that milestone.

"It means a lot," Magee said at a press conference after the game. "A thousand is a lot different than 999. My guys did a great job, I'm really proud of our players."

After the final buzzer, Magee was surrounded by a cheering crowd of fans in the Gallagher Athletic Center as Philadelphia University President Stephen Spinelli Jr. presented him with the game ball.

"Thank you for your support over the years," Magee said to the students, faculty, staff, alumni, family, friends and former players who packed the gym to celebrate his latest milestone. "One of the reasons we won this game was the fan support and fan enthusiasm." Magee said.

Then, as all eyes looked up, a new banner honoring Magee's 1,000 wins earned during his 48 years as head coach of the Rams was unfurled over Herb Magee Court.

At the press conference, Magee, who was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame in 2011, reflected on his 56 years as a player, assistant and head coach at PhilaU. "I like this place, it's my school, it's always had a special meaning to me," he said.

With this win, Magee became only the second NCAA men's basketball coach in history to reach 1,000 victories. Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski earned his 1,000th win just two weeks ago on Jan. 25.

"We're all proud that coach got this," said Nick Schlitzer, Rams' guard and the team's leading scorer this season. "He deserves this, he's extremely focused and he's here to make us all better every day."

A 1963 PhilaU graduate who scored a then-school record 2,235 career points, Magee began coaching at his alma mater in 1967 and led the team to a national championship just two years later. In all, he's led the Rams to 27 NCAA tournaments.  Dubbed the "Shot Doctor," Magee has worked to improve the jump shots of such NBA players as Charles Barkley, Jameer Nelson and Evan Turner.

SOURCE Philadelphia University

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http://www.philaU.edu