Jud Heathcote
Encyclopedia
George Melvin "Jud" Heathcote is a former college basketball
coach. He was a head coach
for 24 seasons at the collegiate level: five at Montana (1971–76) and 19 at Michigan State
(1976–95). Heathcote is perhaps best known for having coached Magic Johnson
during his two years at Michigan State University, including the 1979 National Championship Team.
, to Marion Grant Heathcote and Fawn (Walsh) Heathcote. Two years after his father died in a diphtheria
epidemic of 1930, he was sent to live with his maternal grandparents in Manchester, Washington
, where he lived the entire time he grew up.
of a college varsity program. Previously, he had coached at West Valley High School in Spokane
for 14 seasons, and at Washington State
for seven years, five seasons as freshman
coach and two seasons as frosh-varsity coach.
In the 1974-75 season at Montana, he led them to their first Big Sky
championship. The Grizzlies advanced to the NCAA regionals, losing to eventual tournament champion UCLA. Heathcote was then hired by Joseph Kearney
to take on the head basketall coaching job at Michigan State in 1976 and began the most successful phase of his coaching career.
In his third season at Michigan State, Heathcote guided the Spartans
to the 1979 NCAA Championship
. The Spartans, led by Magic Johnson
, defeated the Larry Bird
-led Indiana State
Sycamores in the title game.
In his 19 years at Michigan State, the Spartans made nine NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
tournaments and three NIT
appearances. As a coach, Heathcote was particularly noted for his excellent defensive strategies on the court and was second to none in blocking the opposing team from penetrating to the hoop. Heathcote retired after the 1994-95 season, having won 418 games and lost 275, for a .603 winning percentage. He was succeeded by Tom Izzo
, an associate head coach under Heathcote for Heathcote's final five seasons.
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
coach. He was a head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
for 24 seasons at the collegiate level: five at Montana (1971–76) and 19 at Michigan State
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
(1976–95). Heathcote is perhaps best known for having coached Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson
Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player who played point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . After winning championships in high school and college, Johnson was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Lakers...
during his two years at Michigan State University, including the 1979 National Championship Team.
Bio
He was born May 27, 1927 in Harvey, North DakotaHarvey, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,989 people, 926 households, and 529 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,031.8 people per square mile . There were 1,056 housing units at an average density of 547.8 per square mile...
, to Marion Grant Heathcote and Fawn (Walsh) Heathcote. Two years after his father died in a diphtheria
Diphtheria
Diphtheria is an upper respiratory tract illness caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, a facultative anaerobic, Gram-positive bacterium. It is characterized by sore throat, low fever, and an adherent membrane on the tonsils, pharynx, and/or nasal cavity...
epidemic of 1930, he was sent to live with his maternal grandparents in Manchester, Washington
Manchester, Washington
Manchester is a census-designated place in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. The population was 4,958 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, where he lived the entire time he grew up.
Coaching career
The stint at Montana was the first for Jud as head coachHead coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
of a college varsity program. Previously, he had coached at West Valley High School in Spokane
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
for 14 seasons, and at Washington State
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
for seven years, five seasons as freshman
Freshman
A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a...
coach and two seasons as frosh-varsity coach.
In the 1974-75 season at Montana, he led them to their first Big Sky
Big Sky Conference
The Big Sky Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I, with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. The BSC was founded in 1963. Member institutions are located in the western United States in the states of Arizona,...
championship. The Grizzlies advanced to the NCAA regionals, losing to eventual tournament champion UCLA. Heathcote was then hired by Joseph Kearney
Joseph Kearney
Dr. Joseph L. “Joe” Kearney was a renowned coach and sports administrator in university athletics.-Life and work:...
to take on the head basketall coaching job at Michigan State in 1976 and began the most successful phase of his coaching career.
In his third season at Michigan State, Heathcote guided the Spartans
Michigan State Spartans
The Michigan State Spartans are the athletic team that represent Michigan State University. The school's athletic program includes 25 varsity sports teams. Their mascot is a Spartan warrior named Sparty, and the school colors are green and white...
to the 1979 NCAA Championship
1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 40 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 9, 1979, and ended with the championship game on March 26 in Salt Lake City, Utah...
. The Spartans, led by Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson
Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player who played point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . After winning championships in high school and college, Johnson was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Lakers...
, defeated the Larry Bird
Larry Bird
Larry Joe Bird is a former American NBA basketball player and coach. Drafted into the NBA sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in 1978, Bird started at small forward and power forward for thirteen seasons, spearheading one of the NBA's most formidable frontcourts that included center Robert Parish...
-led Indiana State
Indiana State University
Indiana State University is a public university located in Terre Haute, Indiana, United States.The Princeton Review has named Indiana State as one of the "Best in the Midwest" seven years running, and the College of Education's Graduate Program was recently named as a 'Top 100' by U.S...
Sycamores in the title game.
In his 19 years at Michigan State, the Spartans made nine NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
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...
tournaments and three 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...
appearances. As a coach, Heathcote was particularly noted for his excellent defensive strategies on the court and was second to none in blocking the opposing team from penetrating to the hoop. Heathcote retired after the 1994-95 season, having won 418 games and lost 275, for a .603 winning percentage. He was succeeded by Tom Izzo
Tom Izzo
Tom Izzo is an American college basketball coach. Since 1995, he has been the head coach for the Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team, presiding over a prolonged period of success....
, an associate head coach under Heathcote for Heathcote's final five seasons.
Head coaching record
External links
- Montana Grizzlies Hall of Fame - Jud Heathcote - inducted 1996
- Battle in Seattle honoree - Dec.2005 - Jud Heathcote
- ESPN.com - Heathcote coaching "family" - Apr.18-2003
- Lansing State JournalLansing State JournalThe Lansing State Journal is a daily newspaper published in Lansing, Michigan owned by Gannett.-Overview:The Lansing State Journal is the sole daily newspaper published in metropolitan Lansing...
- article - He's 80, but Jud remains the same - Aug.7-2007