Tuesday, October 28, 2014

St. Joe's to honor Dr. Jack Ramsay

PHILADELPHIA - The Saint Joseph’s men’s basketball team will wear a “JR” patch on its uniforms for the 2014-15 season to remember Hall of Fame coach Dr. Jack Ramsay, who passed away in April.

One of the greatest teachers in basketball history, Dr. Ramsay, known affectionately throughout the basketball community as "Dr. Jack", made his mark in the collegiate and professional ranks, and more recently as a broadcaster, up until his retirement.

Coach Ramsay compiled a 234-72 record and guided the Hawks to five straight NCAA Tournament appearances and nine consecutive postseason bids from 1955-66, both of which are school records.

He went on to total 864 wins in the NBA and helped the Philadelphia 76ers to the 1967 championship as general manager, while coaching the Portland Trailblazers to the 1977 NBA title.

His combined total of collegiate and professional victories is 1,098, one of the highest ever in the sport of basketball. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992.

A member of the Saint Joseph's Athletics Hall of Fame (1999), SJU Basketball Hall of Fame (1974) and the Philadelphia Big 5 Hall of Fame (1974), Dr. Ramsay was furthered honored by the University in 2009 with the naming of the Ramsay Basketball Center.  The Ramsay Center, which is adjacent to Hagan Arena, houses the SJU men's and women's basketball programs with offices, locker rooms, study spaces and a film room.

The defending Atlantic 10 champion Hawks open the 2014-15 season on November 14 by hosting Fairleigh Dickinson at Hagan Arena.

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