PHILADELPHIA– Attending a Thomas Jefferson University basketball team these days is like being part of a history lesson.
Herb Magee achieved another milestone, winning his 1,100th career game here last night when the Rams (4-0) defeated Kutztown State, 98-79 in a Division 2 game before a crowd of 2,000 at Gallagher Arena that included his family, many of his former assistants and players and with iconic Philadelphia St. Joseph’s Prep coach Speedy Morris, a friend who has won over 1,000 games in his storied career.
The 78-year old Magee, a member of the Naismith Hall of Fame who has been the head coach at Jefferson for 53 years, is only the second coach in the NCAA other than Mike Krzyzewski of Duke to win that many games. He is the only coach to achieve it at one school. When the game ended, the school held a presentation at midcourt, then dropped another banner as the song, “The Summer Wind” played in the background.
“Mike Krzyzewski is one of the best coaches in the game,” Magee said. “You have to feel good any time you get mentioned in the same sentence with him.”
Magee, a former small college All American as a player when the school was known as Philadelphia Textile. He graduated in 1963, then spent three years as an assistant to Bucky Harris before building his own glory road as a head coach on Henry Ave. at the age of 25. He is a local treasure and only the fourth men’s basketball coach in NCAA to coach 50 years, and only the third to do it at one school.
“In Philadelphia, there is Rocky, cheese steaks and Magee,” university president Dr. Stephen Klasko said, before putting on a gray T-shirt that celebrated the moment with the words, “Always be yourself . . . Unless you can be Herb Magee. Then . . . always be HERB MAGEE” on the back.
Magee has lead his teams to 30 NCAA tournament appearances and a national small college championship in 1970. He has led his teams to 30 NCAA tournament, 36 20 plus win seasons and 11 25 plus win seasons so it came as no surprise he has just received a two-year extension.
Magee may well be the best shooting instructor in the history of the sport. He became known as the “Shot Doctor” because of his ability to teach shot making through unforgettable clinics. In one such clinic, he parked his car, entered the court and without any warmup, hit 25 straight shots from the top of the key. I personally saw him making 96 straight free throws at a Cathy Rush camp in the Poconos and make a half court shot through the rafters at Howard Garfinkel’s fabled 5 Star camp in Honesdale, Pa. He worked with numerous NBA players on perfecting their jump shot, most notably Hall of Famer Charles Barkley.
His current senior dominated team is a reflection of his teaching skills. The Rams shredded Kutztown’s zone in the first half, making 12 of 16 threes to take a commanding 56-36 lead and then cruise from there. Sophomore guard Deondre Bourne from Manhattan Prep led the Rams with 27 points, making 6 of 7 threes. Senior forward Jack Bradanese had 25 points, shooting 4 for 4 from the three; and senior guard Kylan Guerra added 21 points, shooting 4 for 6 from the three.
Kutztown deserves a shout-out for agreeing to move this game from its campus to Jefferson so the milestone could achieved on the home court named after Magee.
