Art Perry facts for kids
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Perry in 1997
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| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 8, 1946 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1970–1973 | American |
| Position(s) | Guard |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1973–1976 | Rutgers (part-time assistant) |
| 1976–1978 | Connecticut (assistant) |
| 1978–1985 | Rutgers (assistant) |
| 1985–1990 | Old Dominion (assistant) |
| 1990–1996 | Maryland (assistant) |
| 1996–1997 | Delaware State |
| 1997–2000 | American |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 34–78 |
Arthur Aaron Perry, born in 1946, is a former American college basketball coach. He coached from 1973 to 2000. He was a head coach at American University and Delaware State University. He also worked as an assistant coach at five other colleges. As a head coach in NCAA Division I, he had 34 wins and 78 losses. Coach Perry was known for finding great players. He also focused on guiding and teaching young athletes.
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Early Life and Playing Basketball
Art Perry was born in Washington, DC. His mom, Thelma Garrett Perry, was a teacher. His dad, Aaron Perry, was a professional boxer. Art went to public schools in DC. He graduated from Eastern High School. He played sports throughout his school years.
Perry first went to Howard University. But he was chosen for the military draft. So, he joined the United States Air Force instead. He worked as a crew chief there.
After his time in the military, Perry played college basketball. He played for American University from 1970 to 1973. He played as a point guard and shooting guard. An injury ended his playing career. In the 1971–72 season, he scored ten or more points in 16 of 19 games. His team even played in the National Invitational Tournament. After his injury, Perry moved to Rutgers University. He earned a degree in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation in 1975.
Coaching Career Highlights
Perry started coaching in 1973. He was a part-time assistant coach for the men's basketball team at Rutgers University. During his time at Rutgers, the team had a perfect season in 1975–76. They made it to the NCAA Final Four tournament.
Perry became a head coach in 1996. His first head coaching job was at Delaware State University. The team was struggling when he arrived. They had a tough schedule, playing many strong teams. But the team got better under Coach Perry's leadership.
After the 1996–97 season, Perry became the head coach at American University. This was a return to his old college team. As coach at American University, Perry liked a fast playing style. He also focused a lot on defense.
To help his players grow, Perry took the American University team on a trip. They went on a 12-day tour of Italy. They played against different European basketball teams. This gave the players experiences they might not have had otherwise.
Perry's college coaching career ended in 2000. This was after his time at American University.
Head Coaching Record
Here is a summary of Art Perry's record as a head coach in NCAA Division I:
| Season | Team | Overall Wins–Losses | Conference Wins–Losses | Conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996–97 | Delaware State Hornets | 7–20 | 7–11 | Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference |
| 1997–98 | American Eagles | 9–19 | 5–11 | Colonial Athletic Association |
| 1998–99 | American Eagles | 7–21 | 2–14 | Colonial Athletic Association |
| 1999–00 | American Eagles | 11–18 | 5–11 | Colonial Athletic Association |
Life After Coaching
Perry is married to Janis Perry (her maiden name was Freeman). Her father is Ernie Freeman, a famous musician.
After coaching, Perry became the director of Hoops Consulting. This company helps schools, coaches, players, and parents. They give advice about sports and school. He also worked for the Washington Wizards basketball team for two years. The Wizards are part of the National Basketball Association.
Perry is now retired. He lives in Lewes, Delaware with his wife, Janis. He has also helped local political candidates. He enjoys volunteering and playing tennis.
Awards and Recognition
In 1995, Art Perry accepted the Naismith Award. He accepted it for Joe Smith. Smith was one of Perry's players at the University of Maryland.
In 1999, Perry was honored. He and the other players and coaches from the 1976 Rutgers Men's Basketball Team were inducted. They joined the Rutgers University Athletic Hall of Fame.
As of 2019, Perry has been a member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches for 45 years.
After his coaching career, Perry worked at a Nike outlet store. He was named the outstanding employee twice. This was out of 163 Nike outlet stores in 2019.
