Larry Weise, '58, whose playing, coaching and administrative career at St. Bonaventure University spanned nearly 40 years, will be honored prior to the men's basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 10 against Duquesne.
St. Bonaventure will name its Hall of Fame suites after Weise, a man whose many accomplishments earned him Athletics Hall of Fame induction in 1971. The two suites inside the Hall of Fame Room will now be called the Larry Weise Hall of Fame Suites.
Weise, his wife Julie, and their sons Rich and Bob and daughters Kathy (Shaffer) and Kristen (Nash) will attend the ceremony to formally announce the new name.
"Naming a part of the Reilly Center for Larry Weise in perpetuity is a fitting and appropriate honor for a man who gave so much of his life in service to St. Bonaventure University, from his days as a student-athlete to his incredibly successful coaching career and his many contributions as Athletics Director," said Director of Athletics Joe Manhertz. "We are thrilled to be able to celebrate Larry's legacy along with his friends, family and all of our fans."
A native of Rochester, Weise was a skilled and intelligent player for coach Eddie Donovan from 1955-58. He is credited with the patented St. Bonaventure press known as the "nervous defense," and the frequency of his steals earned him the nickname "the Sheriff." Beyond that, Weise often functioned almost as a second coach on the floor. In 1957, the Bonnies, sparked by leading scorer and All-Little Three selection Weise, reached the National Invitational Tournament. The following season, he co-captained the team to a 21-5 record.
After two years as a high school coach, St. Bonaventure hired the 24-year-old Weise as its head coach in 1961. He had a promising start with a Blue Grass Tourney-winning squad in 1961, and his record over the next 12 seasons silenced critics who initially considered Weise too young for the post. Over that period, the Bonnies posted a record of 202-90, dominated the Little Three with 22 straight wins at one point, and made four-post season NIT and NCAA Tournament appearances, including the unforgettable 1970 run to the NCAA Final Four.
Weise's Bonnies also won the 1967 Tampa Tourney, the 1969 Holiday Festival, and the 1970 Gator Bowl Tourney. His coaching prowess was recognized with the Schofield Sportsmanship Award in 1968, and with the Eastern College Athletic Conference Coach of the Year Award in 1968 and 1970.
As St. Bonaventure's Athletics Director from 1965 to 1992, Weise oversaw the growth of varsity women's sports. A member of the ECAC Tournament Committee from 1975-78, he moved on to a stint on the Board of Directors of the Atlantic 10 Conference. As president of the A-10 from 1985-88, Weise lobbied successfully for St. Bonaventure's admittance to the prestigious conference.
Weise retired in 1992. Today, he remains an active follower of Bonnies basketball and an avid golfer.
Tickets remain, but are limited, for Saturday's game. Click here for ticket info or call 716-375-2500.
