Daniel J. Lynch (1916–1981) was the former athletic director and basketball coach at St. Francis College.[1] Lynch was also a noted public speaker, regularly addressing civic and sports groups.[2] Lynch was often referred to as The Smiling Irishman.[2]
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1916 |
| Died | November 30, 1981 New York, New York, U.S. |
| Alma mater | St. Francis College (B.S.) |
| Playing career | |
| 1934–1938 | St. Francis (NY) |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1948–1969 | St. Francis College |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 1964–1975 | St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 283–237 (54.4%) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 1x MCC Regular Season Champions (1966–67) 2x MTNY Regular Season Champions (1955–56, 1953–54) 1x National Catholic Invitation Champions (1951) | |
Biography
editDaniel Lynch graduated from St. Francis College in 1938. He played on the college's basketball team from 1934 to 1938 and was the team's captain.[3][4] Lynch then went on to become the basketball head coach at his alma mater from 1948 to 1969. In 1964 he was appointed as the athletic director of St. Francis College, a post he held for eleven years, until 1975. One of Lynch's sons, Daniel Lynch Jr., also attended St. Francis College and is a graduate of the 1970 class.
Lynch was one of the original proponents of the three-point field goal.[5]
St. Francis College
editLynch holds the St. Francis College record for most wins by a coach. During his tenure the Terriers men's basketball program experienced their best seasons. The greatest of which, was the 1955–56 season. The Terriers compiled a 21–4 record, were ranked as high as 13th nationally and upset Niagara University to reach the NIT semi-finals before they were defeated.[6]
From 1948 to 1952 the Terriers participated in 4 National Catholic Invitational Tournaments (NCIT). The NCIT was a premier post-season tournament at that time. The Terriers went to the NCIT finals three consecutive times and won the Championship in 1951. Lynch's 1950–51 squad defeated the Seattle University Redhawks 93–79 in the Championship game.
From 1953 to 1969, Lynch guided the Terriers to 3 NIT appearances and 3 Conference Regular Season Championships. Lynch coached many great players like Al Innis and Jim Luisi and during his tenure had 7 players drafted by the NBA.
Lynch was also a large supporter of the Terriers having their own basketball court.[2] Prior to building the Generoso Pope Athletic Complex in 1971, the Terriers for 21 seasons did not have a home court of their own.[2] They played at the 14th Regiment Armory, the 69th Regiment Armory, and at times the Bishop Ford High School gymnasium.[2]
Head coaching record
edit| Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Francis (NY) Terriers (Metropolitan New York Conference) (1948–1963) | |||||||||
| 1948–1949 | St. Francis (NY) | 20–13 | 2–2 | 5th | NCIT Finals | ||||
| 1949–1950 | St. Francis (NY) | 6–18 | 0–4 | 7th | NCIT Finals | ||||
| 1950–1951 | St. Francis (NY) | 19–11 | 1–5 | T-6th | NCIT Champions | ||||
| 1951–1952 | St. Francis (NY) | 20–8 | 4–2 | 2nd | NCIT Semi-finals | ||||
| 1952–1953 | St. Francis (NY) | 20–7 | 2–3 | 4th | |||||
| 1953–1954 | St. Francis (NY) | 23–5 | 5–0 | 1st | NIT Quarter-finals | ||||
| 1954–1955 | St. Francis (NY) | 21–8 | 2–3 | 4th | |||||
| 1955–1956 | St. Francis (NY) | 21–4 | 4–0 | 1st | NIT Semi-finals | ||||
| 1956–1957 | St. Francis (NY) | 12–14 | 1–2 | 6th | |||||
| 1957–1958 | St. Francis (NY) | 14–9 | 2–1 | 3rd | |||||
| 1958–1959 | St. Francis (NY) | 5–18 | 0–3 | 7th | |||||
| 1959–1960 | St. Francis (NY) | 13–8 | 2–1 | 3rd | |||||
| 1960–1961 | St. Francis (NY) | 10–10 | 2–1 | 3rd | |||||
| 1961–1962 | St. Francis (NY) | 8–15 | 2–3 | 4th | |||||
| 1962–1963 | St. Francis (NY) | 16–7 | 4–2 | 3rd | NIT First Round | ||||
| St. Francis (NY): | 228–155 | 33–32 | |||||||
| St. Francis (NY) Terriers (Independent) (1963–1965) | |||||||||
| 1963–1964 | St. Francis (NY) | 10–16 | 6th | ||||||
| 1964–1965 | St. Francis (NY) | 11–9 | 6th | ||||||
| St. Francis (NY): | 21–25 | ||||||||
| St. Francis (NY) Terriers (Metropolitan Collegiate Conference) (1965–1968) | |||||||||
| 1965–1966 | St. Francis (NY) | 5–17 | 0–9 | 10th | |||||
| 1966–1967 | St. Francis (NY) | 15–8 | 7–2 | T-1st | |||||
| 1967–1968 | St. Francis (NY) | 7–16 | 0–8 | 9th | |||||
| St. Francis (NY): | 27–41 | 7–19 | |||||||
| St. Francis (NY) Terriers (Independent) (1968–1969) | |||||||||
| 1968–1969 | St. Francis (NY) | 7–16 | |||||||
| St. Francis (NY): | 7–16 | ||||||||
| Total: | 283–237 | ||||||||
|
National champion
Postseason invitational champion
| |||||||||
References
edit- ^ "Daniel Lynch, Ex-Coach, Dies". nytimes.com. 31 October 1981. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
- ^ a b c d e "Strong Fives at St. Francis, Wagner, Queens, Pace". New York Times. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
- ^ sfcterriers. "SFC Tops Bryant, Senior Day and Unveiling of Lynch Banner" (Video). YouTube.com. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
- ^ "ST. FRANCIS REWARDS 27". New York Times. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
- ^ "Three-Point Field Goals Urged By Lynch, Coach at St. Francis". New York Times. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
- ^ Bill Bradley (2009). ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia: The Complete History of the Men's Game. p. 387. ISBN 9780345513922. Retrieved 21 January 2011.