Pete Newell
Inducted:
1979
Pete Newell was one of the most influential teachers in the history of basketball, renowned for his mastery of footwork and defensive fundamentals. While he is best known for his collegiate success, Newell’s impact on the NBA was monumental; he served as the General Manager of the San Diego Rockets (drafting Elvin Hayes) and later as a scout and consultant for the Los Angeles Lakers.
However, his greatest professional contribution was the "Pete Newell Big Man Camp," an elite summer clinic where he tutored NBA superstars like Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O’Neal, and Bill Walton. On the court, he is one of only three coaches to win an NCAA Championship (California, 1959), an NIT Championship (San Francisco, 1949), and an Olympic Gold Medal (1960).
For his tactical genius and his role as the "Guru of the Post," he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1979.
Newell's Awards & Records
- NCAA University Division tournament (1959)
- 2 NCAA University Division Regional—Final Four (1959, 1960)
- NIT (1949)
- 3 PCC regular season (1957–1959)
- AAWU regular season (1960)
- NABC Coach of the Year (1960)
- UPI Coach of the Year (1960)
- FIBA Hall of Fame (2009)
NBA Teams
San Francisco (1946–1950)
Michigan State (1950–1954)
California (1954–1960)
NBA Stats
Wins:
234
Total Losses:
123
Win(%):
.655
NCAA Championships:
1 (1959)
NIT Championships:
1 (1949)
Olympic Gold Medals:
1 (1960)
Conference Titles:
4 consecutive