Herb Magee

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Herb Magee
Biographical details
Born (1941-06-21) June 21, 1941 (age 82)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Playing career
1960–1963Philadelphia Textile
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1963–1967Philadelphia Textile (assistant)
1967–2022Philadelphia Textile/Philadelphia/Jefferson
Head coaching record
Overall1144–450 (.718)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
NCAA College Division tournament (1970)
CACC tournament (2008, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2018)
CACC regular season (2007)
CACC South Division regular season (2008–2010, 2012, 2014, 2017)
Basketball Hall of Fame
Inducted in 2011 (profile)

Herb Magee (born June 21, 1941),[1] commonly referred to as the Shot Doctor, is an American former men's college basketball coach, who coached for 54 seasons at NCAA Division II Thomas Jefferson University. The school was established in its current form when Philadelphia University, Magee's alma mater, merged with the original Thomas Jefferson University in 2017. The former Philadelphia University was known as Philadelphia College of Textiles & Science and athletically branded as "Philadelphia Textile" when Magee first became head coach in 1967, becoming Philadelphia University in 1999. He has spent 54 years as head coach, and 62 years as either a player or coach at the school as of 2021. In 2015, he achieved his 1,000th win as a head coach, becoming one of only four college coaches to achieve that milestone. On August 12, 2011, Magee was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.[2]

Career[edit]

Playing[edit]

Magee, an Irish American, played his high school basketball at Philadelphia's famed West Catholic High, where his teammates included former Philadelphia 76ers head coach Jim Lynam and former St. Joseph's coach Jim Boyle.[3]

As a five-foot-ten inch, 150-pound player for the Philadelphia Rams, Magee scored 2,235 points (before the introduction of the 3-point shot), leading his team to 75 victories.[4] Magee was a two-time All-American and drafted by the Boston Celtics (the 62nd pick of the 1963 NBA draft).[5] However, he broke his fingers before training camp, and opted instead to return to his alma mater as an assistant coach under Buckey Harris.[6] When Harris retired in 1967, Magee became head coach at the age of 25.[7] He has spent his entire adult life at the East Falls school as either a player, assistant coach, or head coach.

Accomplishments[edit]

Magee has earned many awards during his coaching career. The Kodak District Coach of the Year in 1993, Magee was also tabbed New York Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year that season and again in 1994. In addition, he has been honored as regional Coach of the Year four times, national Coach of the Year twice, and Co-Coach of the Year in the Mideast Collegiate Conference twice. He was also inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 1979. He led the Rams to the College Division National Championship in 1970.[8]

Coach Magee was inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame (2008), Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame (1979), Philadelphia University and West Catholic High School Halls of Fame, and honored by numerous organizations throughout his career.[9] He coached the Olympic Festive team along with John Calipari and was co-coach of the Year in the Mideast Collegiate Conference (twice). The NABC honored him with the Guardian of the Game Award. Coach Magee was awarded the honorary degree Doctor of Humane Letters by President Stephen Spinelli Jr. at Philadelphia University's 125th Commencement on May 17, 2009 in recognition of his accomplishments and years of dedication and service.[10] Known as "shot Doctor" because of his ability to teach basketball shot-making through unforgettable clinics held thousands of times during his career. In one such clinic, he parked his car, entered onto the court and without any warmup, hit 25 in a row from the top of the key.

Magee received a Bachelor of Science in marketing from Philadelphia University in 1963[11] and a Master's in Education from St. Joseph's University in 1969.[12]

On September 7, 2021, Magee announced that he would retire following the 2021-22 season.[13]

Head coaching record[edit]

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Philadelphia Textile Rams () (1967–1984)
1967–68 Philadelphia Textile 21–6 NCAA College Division first round
1968–69 Philadelphia Textile 20–5 NCAA College Division first round
1969–70 Philadelphia Textile 29–2 NCAA College Division champions
1970–71 Philadelphia Textile 22–6 NCAA College Division Regional Final
1971–72 Philadelphia Textile 22–7 NCAA College Division Regional Third Place
1972–73 Philadelphia Textile 25–4 NCAA College Division Regional Fourth Place
1973–74 Philadelphia Textile 10–14
1974–75 Philadelphia Textile 21–6 NCAA Division II Regional Third Place
1975–76 Philadelphia Textile 25–3 NCAA Division II Regional Final
1976–77 Philadelphia Textile 22–6 NCAA Division II Regional Fourth Place
1977–78 Philadelphia Textile 18–10 NCAA Division II Regional Final
1978–79 Philadelphia Textile 20–8 NCAA Division II Regional Fourth Place
1979–80 Philadelphia Textile 13–13
1980–81 Philadelphia Textile 15–12
1981–82 Philadelphia Textile 13–14
1982–83 Philadelphia Textile 23–7 NCAA Division II Regional Final
1983–84 Philadelphia Textile 21–8
Philadelphia Textile Rams (Mideast Collegiate Conference) (1984–1991)
1984–85 Philadelphia Textile 24–7 NCAA Division II Regional Final
1985–86 Philadelphia Textile 16–14
1986–87 Philadelphia Textile 16–14
1987–88 Philadelphia Textile 20–10
1988–89 Philadelphia Textile 24–7 NCAA Division II Regional Fourth Place
1989–90 Philadelphia Textile 22–8
1990–91 Philadelphia Textile 24–8 NCAA Division II Quarterfinal
Philadelphia Textile / Philadelphia Rams (New York Collegiate Athletic Conference) (1991–2005)
1991–92 Philadelphia Textile 28–4 NCAA Division II Regional Final
1992–93 Philadelphia Textile 30–2 NCAA Division II Quarterfinal
1993–94 Philadelphia Textile 29–2 NCAA Division II Regional Final
1994–95 Philadelphia Textile 26–5 NCAA Division II Regional Final
1995–96 Philadelphia Textile 19–9
1996–97 Philadelphia Textile 13–14
1997–98 Philadelphia Textile 18–10
1998–99 Philadelphia 21–6
1999–00 Philadelphia 17–10
2000–01 Philadelphia 24–7 NCAA Division II Regional semifinal
2001–02 Philadelphia 19–9
2002–03 Philadelphia 16–12
2003–04 Philadelphia 26–8 NCAA Division II Regional Quarterfinal
2004–05 Philadelphia 21–9
Philadelphia/Jefferson Rams (Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference) (2005–2022)
2005–06 Philadelphia 20–11 15–7 2nd
2006–07 Philadelphia 20–10 14–6 T–1st NCAA Division II Regional Quarterfinal
2007–08 Philadelphia 22–12 16–0 1st (South) NCAA Division II Regional Quarterfinal
2008–09 Philadelphia 25–6 14–2 1st (South) NCAA Division II first round
2009–10 Philadelphia 27–8 16–1 1st (South) NCAA Division II Regional Final
2010–11 Philadelphia 15–12 10–7 2nd (South)
2011–12 Philadelphia 19–10 13–4 T–1st (South) NCAA Division II first round
2012–13 Philadelphia 19–10 12–5 2nd (South)
2013–14 Philadelphia 25–7 16–3 1st (South) NCAA Division II first round
2014–15 Philadelphia 24–8 15–4 T–2nd (South) NCAA Division II first round
2015–16 Philadelphia 23–9 14–5 2nd (South) NCAA Division II first round
2016–17 Philadelphia 21–9 16–3 1st (South)
2017–18 Jefferson 21–14 13–6 2nd (South) NCAA Division II first round
2018–19 Jefferson 22–8 16–3 1st (South)
2019–20 Jefferson 27–4 18–1 1st (South)
2020–21 Jefferson 0–0 0–0 Jefferson did not play in 2020–21 due to COVID-19 concerns.
2021–22 Jefferson 21–6 16–2 1st (South)
Philadelphia Textile / Philadelphia / Jefferson: 1144–450
Total: 1144–450

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Personal life[edit]

Magee has been married twice and has two daughters.[14]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

General
  • Armstrong, Kevin (February 21, 2010). "Unusually Talented College Basketball Coach Is Set for a Record". The New York Times.
  • Fox, Ashley (February 21, 2010). "Magee: King of Victory Mountain". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Footnotes
  1. ^ "Herb Magee". hoophall.com. Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Herb Magee (1984)". jeffersonrams.com. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Saint Joseph's Mourns Loss of Former Coach Jim Boyle". Saint Joseph's Hawks. December 23, 2005. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  4. ^ "Herb Magee". phillyhall.org. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  5. ^ "Herb Magee". phillyhall.org. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  6. ^ "Herb Magee". phillyhall.org. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Herb Magee Passes Another Milestone". bluestarmedia.org. BlueStar Media. 20 November 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Great Moments in Rams History: 1970 Men's Basketball National Championship". jeffersonrams.com. Thomas Jefferson University. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  9. ^ "Herb Magee". phillyhall.org. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  10. ^ "Herb Magee - Jefferson Rams Official Athletic Site". philau.prestosports.com. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  11. ^ "Herb Magee". JeffersonRams.com. Thomas Jefferson University. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  12. ^ Wells, Bill. "HERB MAGEE '69 (M.S.) Naismith Hall of Famer" (PDF). sju.edu. St. Joseph's University. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  13. ^ Macy, Evan (7 September 2021). "Philly basketball legend, Hall of Famer Herb Magee to retire after upcoming season". phillyvoice.com. WWB Holdings, LLC. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  14. ^ "For Herb Magee, road to 1000 wins never left Philadelphia". usatoday.com. Gannett. Retrieved 31 August 2021.

External links[edit]