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 basketball coach. He coached college basketball teams from 1973 to 2000. He was the main coach for teams at American University and Delaware State University. He also worked as an assistant coach for five other college teams.
As a head coach, Art Perry won 34 games and lost 78. He was known for being great at finding new players for his teams. He also cared a lot about guiding and teaching young athletes.
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Early Life and Playing Basketball
Art Perry was born in Washington, DC. His mother, Thelma Garrett Perry, was a school teacher. His father, Aaron Perry, was a professional boxer. Art went to public schools in Washington, D.C., and graduated from Eastern High School. He played sports throughout his school years.
Perry first went to Howard University. However, he was called to join the military. Instead, he chose to join the United States Air Force. He worked as a crew chief there.
After his time in the military, Perry played college basketball for American University. He played from 1970 to 1973. He was a point guard and a shooting guard. His playing career ended because of an injury. In the 1971–72 season, he scored ten or more points in 16 of the 19 games he played. 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
Art Perry started his coaching journey in 1973. He was a part-time assistant coach for the men's basketball team at Rutgers University. While he was there, the Rutgers team had a perfect season in 1975–76. They did not lose any games and made it to the NCAA Final Four tournament.
First Head Coaching Role
Perry became a head coach in NCAA Division I Men's College Basketball in 1996. This was at Delaware State University. The team he took over was having a tough time. They needed more discipline, and their schedule was very hard. They played against more than eight teams that had been in the NCAA playoffs. Even with these challenges, the team got better under Perry's coaching.
After the 1996–97 season, Perry became the head coach at American University. This was a special return for him, as it was his old college team. As coach at American University, Perry liked a style of play that used speed and strong defense.
Developing Players
To help his players grow, Perry took his American University team on a 12-day trip to Italy. They played against different European basketball teams. This trip gave the players experiences they might not have had otherwise.
Art Perry's college coaching career ended in 2000 after his time at American University.
Life After Coaching
After his coaching career, Art Perry became the director of Hoops Consulting. This company helps schools, coaches, players, and parents with sports and school-related matters. He also worked for two years as a consultant for the Washington Wizards. This is a professional basketball team in the National Basketball Association.
Perry is now retired. He lives in Lewes, Delaware with his wife, Janis. He has helped local political candidates and volunteers for many different activities. He also enjoys playing tennis.
Awards and Special Recognition
In 1995, Art Perry accepted the Naismith Award for Joe Smith. Joe Smith was one of the players Perry coached at the University of Maryland.
In 1999, Perry and the other players and coaches from the 1976 Men's Basketball Team were honored. They were inducted into the Rutgers University Athletic Hall of Fame.
As of 2019, Perry had been a member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches for 45 years.
During his time after coaching, Perry worked for Nike Co. in one of their stores. He was named the outstanding employee twice. This was a big achievement, as Nike had 163 outlet stores in 2019.
