Dee Rowe

Dee Rowe (1929-2021)

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

Career Accomplishments:

  • NCAA National Championships:  0
  • NCAA Tournament Appearances:  1  (1976)
  • NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen:  1  (1976)
  • NCAA Tournament Final Four:  0
  • NIT Championships:  0
  • NIT Appearances:  2  (1974, 1975)
  • Yankee Regular Season Champion:  1  (1970)

Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):

1969-1977 Connecticut

Dee Rowe Facts

  • 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

Dee Rowe Coaching Tree