Hugh Greer
Encyclopedia
Hugh Greer was the UConn Huskies men's basketball
coach from 1946 to 1963.
, Hugh Greer went to school at Connecticut Agricultural College (now University of Connecticut
). As a basketball player at CAC, Greer helped lead his school to a New England Conference championship in 1926.
from 1947 to 1963. As coach of the Huskies
he led UConn to 7 NCAA Tournaments
and 1 NIT
berth. He would up with a career record of 286–112 for a .719 win percentage, which stands second in winning percentage and wins in UConn history. As head coach, he won 12 Yankee Conference Championships overall and 10 consecutively from the 1950–51 season to the 1959–60 season.
In 1954, he famously led UConn to a 78–77 victory against undefeated Holy Cross breaking the Crusaders
' 47-game home winning streak. Eventually, Holy Cross won the NIT title. In 1956, Greer led UConn to the Sweet 16, where they lost in a close game to Temple
. He led UConn until he died on January 14, 1963, of a massive heart attack.
Connecticut Huskies men's basketball
The Connecticut Huskies is the name of the men's college basketball team representing the University of Connecticut, in Storrs, Connecticut, USA. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Big East Conference...
coach from 1946 to 1963.
Early life and education
Born in Suffield, ConnecticutSuffield, Connecticut
Suffield is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It had once been within the boundaries of Massachusetts. The town is located in the Connecticut River Valley with the town of Enfield neighboring to the east. In 1900, 3,521 people lived in Suffield; and in 1910, 3,841. As of the...
, Hugh Greer went to school at Connecticut Agricultural College (now University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
). As a basketball player at CAC, Greer helped lead his school to a New England Conference championship in 1926.
Coaching career
Hugh Greer coached basketball at ConnecticutUniversity of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
from 1947 to 1963. As coach of the Huskies
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
he led UConn to 7 NCAA Tournaments
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
and 1 NIT
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
berth. He would up with a career record of 286–112 for a .719 win percentage, which stands second in winning percentage and wins in UConn history. As head coach, he won 12 Yankee Conference Championships overall and 10 consecutively from the 1950–51 season to the 1959–60 season.
In 1954, he famously led UConn to a 78–77 victory against undefeated Holy Cross breaking the Crusaders
Holy Cross Crusaders men's basketball
The Holy Cross Crusaders men's basketball team represents the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, in NCAA Division I competition. The team competes in the Patriot League and plays their home games in the Hart Center...
' 47-game home winning streak. Eventually, Holy Cross won the NIT title. In 1956, Greer led UConn to the Sweet 16, where they lost in a close game to Temple
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
. He led UConn until he died on January 14, 1963, of a massive heart attack.
Coaching record
| Season | Wins | Losses | Yankee Conference | Postseason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946–47 | 12 | 0 | ||
| 1947–48 | 17 | 6 | Champions | |
| 1948–49 | 19 | 6 | Champions | |
| 1949–50 | 17 | 8 | ||
| 1950–51 | 22 | 4 | Champions | NCAA First Round |
| 1951–52 | 20 | 7 | Champions | |
| 1952–53 | 17 | 4 | Champions | |
| 1953–54 | 23 | 3 | Champions | NCAA First Round |
| 1954–55 | 20 | 5 | Champions | NIT First Round |
| 1955–56 | 17 | 11 | Champions | NCAA Sweet Sixteen |
| 1956–57 | 17 | 8 | Champions | NCAA First Round |
| 1957–58 | 17 | 10 | Champions | NCAA First Round |
| 1958–59 | 17 | 7 | Champions | NCAA First Round |
| 1959–60 | 17 | 9 | Champions | NCAA First Round |
| 1960–61 | 11 | 13 | ||
| 1961–62 | 16 | 8 | ||
| 1962–63 | 7 | 3 |