RIP Wes Unseld
- Thread starter HOF Coach
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It always amazed me how he could play center in the NBA at his height, and do it well. He was like Barkley, and Adrian Dantley as a player who played far bigger than his actual size.
The consummate Warrior. Listed at 6'8" Wes was probably closer to 6'6" but boy could that guy dominate the paint. He's the guy Big Fella always reminded me of. RIP big Wes.
Wes Unseld was recruited by and played for my uncle at the University of Louisville.
Kentucky Wildcats' fans have been known to point out that my uncle, John Dromo, was the last "clean" Louisville basketball coach.
This was his brief obituary that was published in 1992 by The New York Times:
"John Dromo, who was instrumental as a coach and recruiter in building the University of Louisville into a national basketball power, died at his home on Tuesday. He was 76 years old.
His wife, Betty, said her husband suffered from congestive heart failure.
Mr. Dromo was head coach from the 1967-68 season until nine games into the 1970-71 season, when he suffered a heart attack after a game in Tulsa. He finished with a 68-23 record.
He was succeeded as coach by Denny Crum, who took the team he inherited from Mr. Dromo and reached the national collegiate semifinals (NCAA Final Four) in 1971-72."
Kentucky Wildcats' fans have been known to point out that my uncle, John Dromo, was the last "clean" Louisville basketball coach.
This was his brief obituary that was published in 1992 by The New York Times:
"John Dromo, who was instrumental as a coach and recruiter in building the University of Louisville into a national basketball power, died at his home on Tuesday. He was 76 years old.
His wife, Betty, said her husband suffered from congestive heart failure.
Mr. Dromo was head coach from the 1967-68 season until nine games into the 1970-71 season, when he suffered a heart attack after a game in Tulsa. He finished with a 68-23 record.
He was succeeded as coach by Denny Crum, who took the team he inherited from Mr. Dromo and reached the national collegiate semifinals (NCAA Final Four) in 1971-72."
Wes Unseld was recruited by and played for my uncle at the University of Louisville.
Kentucky Wildcats' fans have been known to point out that my uncle, John Dromo, was the last "clean" Louisville basketball coach.
This was his brief obituary that was published in 1992 by The New York Times:
"John Dromo, who was instrumental as a coach and recruiter in building the University of Louisville into a national basketball power, died at his home on Tuesday. He was 76 years old.
His wife, Betty, said her husband suffered from congestive heart failure.
Mr. Dromo was head coach from the 1967-68 season until nine games into the 1970-71 season, when he suffered a heart attack after a game in Tulsa. He finished with a 68-23 record.
He was succeeded as coach by Denny Crum, who took the team he inherited from Mr. Dromo and reached the national collegiate semifinals (NCAA Final Four) in 1971-72."
Interesting story. Was your uncle an assistant coach at Louisville prior to becoming the head coach?
From Wikipedia:
"In 1948, Dromo joined the staff at Louisville as an assistant coach for both football and basketball. For 17 years, he served under Bernard Hickman. Upon Hickman's retirement, Dromo assumed the position of head coach. During his four-year tenure, he achieved a 68–23 record.[2] During the 1970–71 season, he suffered a heart attack and subsequently retired; he was succeeded by Denny Crum."
After his retirement as the head basketball coach, he served as the Head Coach of Louisville's Varsity Golf Team for several years.
Too bad coach Dromo's basketball coaching career was cut short due to some health issues. No telling how that might have changed history.
I'll share this story with you as it is appropriate on this day.
Wes loved my uncle and my uncle loved Wes. When I was in Jr. High and highly impressionable, my uncle taught me a lesson about respecting everyone, regardless of race, religion or creed.
One of the articles that I posted above talked about Wes' interaction with Kentucky's Coach Adolph Rupp, whose Wildcats had yet to be intergrated. It did not go well for Wes.
Next, my uncle is hosting Wes on his recruiting visit to Louisville. They get out of the car for a walking tour of campus. As they begin to walk, Wes is a few steps behind my uncle (in that era in Kentucky, blacks were not considered equals and walking behind was typical).
My uncle turned, looked at Wes who instinctively lowered his head, and called out to him, "Wes, you get up here and walk side-by-side with me. And don't you take a secondary position to ANYONE ever again!"
The rest is history...
Here's a video (with a cameo appearance by Billy Knight) that shows several examples of Wes' outlet passing:
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