Dee Rowe facts for kids
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| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 22, 1929 Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | January 10, 2021 (aged 91) Storrs, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1949–1952 | Middlebury |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1955–1969 | Worcester Academy |
| 1969–1977 | Connecticut |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 120–88 (.577) |
Donald Rowe (born December 22, 1929 – died January 10, 2021) was a famous American basketball coach for college teams. He coached the UConn Huskies men's team. Later, he helped raise money for college sports programs as a university Athletics Ambassador.
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Dee Rowe's Early Life and Education
Dee Rowe was born in Worcester, Massachusetts. He finished high school at Worcester Academy in 1947. After that, he went to Middlebury College. There, he played on the men's basketball team.
Dee Rowe's Coaching Career
After college, Rowe served in the U.S. Army. In 1955, he returned to Worcester Academy. He became the Athletic Director and head basketball coach. He quickly made the school's sports program very strong. His basketball teams won the New England Prep School Championship nine times. He worked there for 13 years, from 1955 to 1969. He coached both basketball and baseball teams.
In 1969, Rowe became the head coach for the University of Connecticut men's basketball team. He led the Huskies from 1969 to 1977. From 1972 to 1977, UConn had many winning seasons. They even reached the "Sweet Sixteen" in the NCAA tournament once. They also played in the NIT tournament twice. Rowe was named the New England coach of the year in 1970 and 1976.
Rowe also helped find other great coaches for UConn. He was part of the groups that hired Jim Calhoun for men's basketball and Geno Auriemma for women's basketball. Both of them are now in the Hall of Fame. Rowe also played a big part in starting the Big East conference. He was very important in raising money for UConn sports. Over 13 years, he helped collect millions of dollars. This money helped build projects like the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion.
In December 2016, the Basketball Hall of Fame announced that Dee Rowe was nominated. He was considered for being a member of the Hall of Fame. In 2017, he received the John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award. This award is given by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Dee Rowe and the Olympics
In 1980, Dave Gavitt chose Rowe to be an assistant coach. He was to help the U.S. Olympic men's basketball team. However, the U.S. boycotted the 1980 Olympics. This meant Rowe could not go as a coach.
Rowe had a picture of the 1980 U.S. Olympic team in his office. He was sad that he couldn't go. Geno Auriemma, the UConn women's basketball coach, often saw this picture. In 2010, Auriemma was named the head coach for the USA women's basketball team. He was going to coach them in the 2012 Olympics. When Auriemma received an award in 2010, Rowe presented it to him. In his speech, Auriemma talked about Rowe's disappointment. He said he hoped to take Rowe with him to the Olympics.
In 2012, Auriemma found a way to bring Rowe along. He talked to Warde Manuel, UConn's athletic director. He suggested that Rowe become a university ambassador. About 250 UConn alumni were going to the Olympics. Rowe could represent the school. The athletic director and the school president, Susan Herbst, liked the idea. So, Dee Rowe was able to attend the Olympics in an official role.
Dee Rowe's Personal Life and Passing
Dee Rowe married his college girlfriend, Virginia (Ginny) Bradford Reynolds, in 1954. They had seven children together.
Rowe had a memory condition called dementia. He passed away at his home in Storrs, Connecticut, on January 10, 2021. He was 91 years old. He died from COVID-19 and a rare blood condition called Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia.
Images for kids
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Dee Rowe, a respected college basketball coach and ambassador.
