Larranaga to be Inducted into NYC Basketball Hall of Fame
Sept. 9, 2011
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – University of Miami men’s basketball coach Jim Larranaga will be inducted into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame on Sept. 22, 2011, in a ceremony held at the New York Athletic Club on Central Park South at 59th Street.
Larranaga, born in the Bronx, N.Y., came to Miami after serving as the head coach at George Mason for 14 seasons. He guided the program to five NCAA Tournament appearances (2011, 2008, 2006, 2001, 1999) – including an unprecedented run to the 2006 Final Four that captured the nation’s attention, defeating Michigan State, North Carolina, Wichita State and UConn along the way. Following that run, he was selected the 2006 Clair Bee Coach of the Year.
Larranaga built the Patriots’ program into a perennial contender in the highly-regarded Colonial Athletic Association, winning more games than any other coach in program and conference history (273) en route to three conference titles (2008, 2001, 1999).
In 2006, Larranaga became the first coach at a mid-major school to take his team to the Final Four in 27 years and earned an at-large berth for a CAA team for the first time in 20 seasons. Along the way, he led Mason to a school record in wins, the school’s first-ever national ranking, George Mason’s first-ever appearance in the Top 10 and the school’s first wins over Top 10 teams.
With 28 years of head coaching experience, previously served as the head coach at Bowling Green for 11 seasons (1986-1997) and at Division II American International for two seasons (1977-79).
Larranaga will be joined at the 2011 induction ceremony by Donnie Walsh, former New York Knicks President; longtime Knicks trainer Mike Saunders; former Knick John Warren; a member of the Knicks 1969-70 NBA championship team, the late Lloyd “Sonny” Dove; Debbie Mason, the former All-America from Queens College known as “Lady Pearl”; Tom Henderson, an all-city performer from DeWitt Clinton H.S. in the Bronx; and former Fordham All-America Kenny Charles.
The New York City Basketball Hall of Fame, founded in 1990, includes a number of basketball legends. The Hall of Fame’s 1990 charter class included Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Red Auerbach, Bob Cousy, Clair Bee, Billy Cunningham, Pop Gates, Connie Hawkins, Dick McGuire and Adolph Schayes.
