Murray Wier
Encyclopedia
Murray Neal Wier nicknamed "Rampaging Redhead" and "Wizard Wier," is an American
former professional basketball player for the Tri-Cities Blackhawks (now the present-day Atlanta Hawks
) and the Waterloo Hawks
. He is better known for his standout college career at the University of Iowa
, however, when in 1947–48 he was named a consensus first team All-America
n and was also the inaugural National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) Major College scoring leader at 21.0 points per game.
. He attended Grandview High School from his freshman
through junior
years before moving to Muscatine, Iowa
. He then spent his senior
year in 1943–44 at Muscatine High School
, from which he graduated. He led Muscatine High School to a district championship with a 50–37 win over their arch rival, Davenport High School, and was named a first team all-state selection by the Des Moines Register
and Iowa Daily Press Association. After his breakout senior season, University of Iowa head men's basketball coach "Pops" Harrison offered him a full scholarship to play for the Hawkeyes
.
season championship. Wier was a , 155 lb (70 kg) guard but played more of a hybrid position, utilizing his dribbling and shooting guard abilities while technically lining up as a forward. The Hawkeyes were fairly successful over the rest of Wier's career and eventually finished second to the Michigan Wolverines
for the conference championship during his senior season in 1947–48.
Wier led the Hawkeyes in scoring in both his junior and senior years at 15.1 and 21.0 points per game (ppg), respectively. Like he did in high school, he had a breakout senior year. His 21.0 ppg led the NCAA in scoring en route to Wier becoming the first officially recognized Major College division scoring leader. In the process, he set a then-Big Ten record of 272 points in conference play, was a first team all-conference selection and was also dubbed the Big Ten's Most Valuable Player. He capped his career off by being named a consensus first team All-American
.
by the Fort Wayne Pistons. Although he was drafted by the Pistons, he did not play for them. He began his career in 1948 with the Tri-Cities Blackhawks, who originally played in the National Basketball League
(NBL). Before the 1949–50 season, the BAA and NBL merged to form the present-day NBA
. In 1949-50, Wier's second season with the Blackhawks, he played for Red Auerbach
, who would later win 10 NBA titles as a head coach. After three years with the Blackhawks, Wier then spent one final season playing professional basketball when he joined the Waterloo Hawks
of the National Professional Basketball League. When the league folded, his basketball career as a player ended.
for the boys' basketball team. He was the head coach for 24 years (until 1989) and compiled an overall record of 374 wins versus 140 losses, including winning the state championship in 1974. That same season he was named the Iowa State Coach of the Year. Aside from coaching, Wier also served as the high school's athletic director for 34 years.
As of February 2006, Wier lives in Georgetown, Texas
in a retirement community called Sun City Texas
. He is a member of the NBA Retired Players Association.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former professional basketball player for the Tri-Cities Blackhawks (now the present-day Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
) and the Waterloo Hawks
Waterloo Hawks
The Waterloo Hawks were a National Basketball League and National Basketball Association team based in Waterloo, Iowa. The Hawks remain the only sports franchise ever based in Iowa from any of the Big Four Leagues.- Franchise history :...
. He is better known for his standout college career at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
, however, when in 1947–48 he was named a consensus first team All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n and was also the inaugural National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCAA) Major College scoring leader at 21.0 points per game.
Early life
Wier was born in Grandview, IowaGrandview, Iowa
Grandview is a city in Louisa County, Iowa, United States. The population was 600 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Muscatine Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
. He attended Grandview High School from his 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...
through junior
Junior (education)
"Junior" is a term used in the United States to describe a student in their 3rd year of study . A Junior is considered an upperclassman...
years before moving to Muscatine, Iowa
Muscatine, Iowa
Muscatine is a city in Muscatine County, Iowa, United States. The population was 22,886 in the 2010 census, an increase from 22,697 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Muscatine County...
. He then spent his senior
Senior (education)
Senior is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the 4th year of study .-High school:...
year in 1943–44 at Muscatine High School
Muscatine High School
Muscatine High School is a four-year comprehensive high school located in Muscatine, Iowa. The school is part of the Muscatine Community School District, and has an enrollment of approximately 1,700 students in grades nine through twelve....
, from which he graduated. He led Muscatine High School to a district championship with a 50–37 win over their arch rival, Davenport High School, and was named a first team all-state selection by the Des Moines Register
Des Moines Register
The Des Moines Register is the daily morning newspaper of Des Moines, Iowa, in the United States. A separate edition of the Register is sold throughout much of Iowa.-History:...
and Iowa Daily Press Association. After his breakout senior season, University of Iowa head men's basketball coach "Pops" Harrison offered him a full scholarship to play for the Hawkeyes
Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball
The Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team represents the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, as a member of the Big Ten Conference and the National Collegiate Athletic Association. They currently play in 15,500-seat Carver-Hawkeye Arena, along with the school's women's basketball, wrestling, and...
.
College
Harrison made Wier a four-year starter at Iowa. In his freshman season of 1944–45, the Hawkeyes won the Big Ten ConferenceBig Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
season championship. Wier was a , 155 lb (70 kg) guard but played more of a hybrid position, utilizing his dribbling and shooting guard abilities while technically lining up as a forward. The Hawkeyes were fairly successful over the rest of Wier's career and eventually finished second to the Michigan Wolverines
Michigan Wolverines men's basketball
The Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing the University of Michigan. The school competes in the Big Ten Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association . The Wolverines play home basketball games at the...
for the conference championship during his senior season in 1947–48.
Wier led the Hawkeyes in scoring in both his junior and senior years at 15.1 and 21.0 points per game (ppg), respectively. Like he did in high school, he had a breakout senior year. His 21.0 ppg led the NCAA in scoring en route to Wier becoming the first officially recognized Major College division scoring leader. In the process, he set a then-Big Ten record of 272 points in conference play, was a first team all-conference selection and was also dubbed the Big Ten's Most Valuable Player. He capped his career off by being named a consensus first team All-American
1948 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
The Consensus 1948 College Basketball All-American team, as determined by aggregating the results of three major All-American teams. To earn "consensus" status, a player must win honors from a majority of the following teams: the Associated Press, the Helms Athletic Foundation, and Converse.-1948...
.
Professional
Wier was drafted 48th overall in the 1948 Basketball Association of America Draft1948 BAA Draft
The 1948 BAA Draft was the second annual draft of the Basketball Association of America , which later became the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on May 10, 1948 before to the 1948–49 season. In this draft, eight BAA teams along with four teams who moved from the National...
by the Fort Wayne Pistons. Although he was drafted by the Pistons, he did not play for them. He began his career in 1948 with the Tri-Cities Blackhawks, who originally played in the National Basketball League
National Basketball League (United States)
Founded in 1937, the National Basketball League, often abbreviated to NBL, was a professional men's basketball league in the United States. The league would later merge with the Basketball Association of America to form the National Basketball Association in 1949.- League history :The...
(NBL). Before the 1949–50 season, the BAA and NBL merged to form the present-day NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
. In 1949-50, Wier's second season with the Blackhawks, he played for Red Auerbach
Red Auerbach
Arnold Jacob "Red" Auerbach was an American basketball coach of the Washington Capitols, the Tri-Cities Blackhawks and the Boston Celtics. After he retired from coaching, he served as president and front office executive of the Celtics until his death...
, who would later win 10 NBA titles as a head coach. After three years with the Blackhawks, Wier then spent one final season playing professional basketball when he joined the Waterloo Hawks
Waterloo Hawks
The Waterloo Hawks were a National Basketball League and National Basketball Association team based in Waterloo, Iowa. The Hawks remain the only sports franchise ever based in Iowa from any of the Big Four Leagues.- Franchise history :...
of the National Professional Basketball League. When the league folded, his basketball career as a player ended.
Later life
After professional basketball, Wier became an assistant coach at Waterloo East High SchoolWaterloo East High School
East High School in Waterloo, Iowa is a public high school consisting of approximately 1300 students in grades 9-12.- History :The school was originally founded at its current site in 1874, with the present building being built in 1918. In 1939, the Music and Industrial Arts wing was added, and...
for the boys' basketball team. He was the head coach for 24 years (until 1989) and compiled an overall record of 374 wins versus 140 losses, including winning the state championship in 1974. That same season he was named the Iowa State Coach of the Year. Aside from coaching, Wier also served as the high school's athletic director for 34 years.
As of February 2006, Wier lives in Georgetown, Texas
Georgetown, Texas
Georgetown is a city and also the county seat of Williamson County, Texas, United States with a population of 47,400 at the 2010 census. Southwestern University, founded in 1840, is the oldest university in Texas and is located in Georgetown, about 1/2 mile east of the historic square...
in a retirement community called Sun City Texas
Sun City Texas
Sun City Texas is a age-restricted community located in Georgetown, Texas , a city 35 miles north of Austin off I-35. It is part of the chain of Sun City communities started by Del Webb.|...
. He is a member of the NBA Retired Players Association.