Dee Rowe (Former UConn Head Coach)

Dee Rowe

Teams coached: Connecticut Huskies
Connecticut record: 120-88 (.577)
Overall record: 120-88 (.577)

1969-1977

Donald Rowe
Born January 20, 1929
Died January 10, 2021
Hometown: Worcester, Massachusetts
Alma Mater: Middlebury College (BA, 1952) / Boston University (MA, 1953)
Graduated from Worcester Academy (MA) and Middlebury College (VT) and then served in the US Army
Returned to Worcester Academy in 1955 to be the AD and head boys’ basketball coach
- Turned the school into a powerhouse, winning the New England Prep School Championship nine times
Hired in 1969 to be the head coach at Connecticut, then members of the Yankee Conference
- Went 120-88 in eight years at the helm and won the 1970 Yankee title
- Appeared in the NIT twice (1974, 1975) and reach the NCAA Sweet Sixteen in 1976
Despite stepping away from coaching in 1977, Rowe remained involved at both UConn and Worcester Academy
- Worked in fundraising for 13 years at UConn, helping build the Gampel Pavilion on campus
- Has had his name displayed among the Huskies of Honor inside Gampel since 2007
Was to be an assistant coach for Team USA at the 1980 Olympics, but the country boycotted the games
- Rowe later attended the 2012 Olympics as an ambassador alongside Geno Auriemma, the women’s head coach at UConn who was coaching the women’s Team USA
Passed away in January 2021 at the age of 91; preceded in death by his wife, Ginny, with whom he had 7 children and 17 grandchildren