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Entries in Sports (6)

Wednesday
Feb242010

Phila. U's Magee New Winningest NCAA Coach

Herb Magee, Philadelphia University RamsThis is my first post delving into the sports world, but today's story caught me by surprise, and I felt it was worthy of sharing in case it flew under your radar like it almost did mine. 

Herb Magee, basketball coach at Philadelphia University, won his 903rd game last night, passing famous firebrand Bobby Knight as the winningest coach in NCAA history.  Magee has spent 43 years helming the Division II team, and the stadium was packed with cheering fans, faculty, and media as he reached this milestone. 

Read more at The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Read more at ESPN.

Now, as someone who lived outside Philadelphia for the first 22 years of his life, it's a little embarrassing to admit that I had never heard of Herb Magee until today.  This is partly because I was never a huge college basketball fan, though of course recognized Villanova coach Jay Wright, who was in attendance for the Rams win.  A second reason is the relatively low profile of Philadelphia University within the city.  Steeped in history as a textile school, the university now offers a liberal arts education for just under 4,000 students.  And as its nestled on either side of Henry Avenue between Manayunk and East Falls, the only time I had occasion to pass it by was while on a cheesesteak run to Dalessandro's.   

Nonetheless, I was struck by the quiet strength and humility of Magee as evidenced by his media quotes on the achievement.  "It's really hard to win games," he said, and on his relation to Knight and other winning coaches like Dean Smith, he said, "If someone mentions my name along with those guys that makes me proud...because I think they are the two best coaches who ever lived." 

Congratulations to Coach Magee and Philadelphia University.  Perhaps I'll be able to be in the building for your 1000th win.

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