Doggie Julian

Doggie Julian (1901-1967)

Teams coached: Muhlenberg Mules, Holy Cross Crusaders, Boston Celtics, Dartmouth Indians
Muhlenberg record: 129-71 (.645)
Holy Cross record: 65-10 (.867)
Dartmouth record: 185-251 (.424)
Overall record^: 379-332 (.533)

Career Accomplishments:

Awards:

  • Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (inducted 1968)
  • National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame (inducted 2006)

Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):

1950-1967 Dartmouth
1948-1950 Boston Celtics
1945-1948 Holy Cross
1936-1945 Muhlenberg

Doggie Julian Facts

  • Alvin Fred Julian
  • Born April 5, 1901
  • Died July 28, 1967
  • Hometown: Reading, Pennsylvania
  • Alma Mater: Bucknell University (BA, 1923)
  • Lettered in three sports (basketball, baseball and football) at Bucknell, then embarked on a minor league baseball playing career
  • Started coaching in 1929, spending one year as the head football coach at Albright College in his hometown of Reading, PA
  • Spent two years as the head football coach at Ashland HS (PA) before being hired at Muhlenberg College (Allentown, PA) to coach both the football and basketball teams (and later the baseball team, as well)
    • Won 129 games in nine seasons on the basketball court, leading the Mules to the NIT in 1944 and 1945
  • Left for Holy Cross in Boston in 1945, leading the Crusaders for three seasons
    • With star players George Kaftan, Joe Mullaney and freshman PG Bob Cousy, Julian’s Holy Cross team was crowned 1947 NCAA National Champions
    • Finished in third place a year later, prompting Julian to jump to the professional ranks
  • Went 47-82 in two seasons as the head coach of the Boston Celtics, just the third and fourth years of the franchise’s existence
  • Finished out his coaching career at Dartmouth, leading that program for 17 seasons and winning 185 games
  • Authored the book Bread and Butter Basketball in 1960
  • Passed away in 1967 at age 66 due to arteriosclerotic heart disease; survived by his wife, Lena, two sons and one daughter

Doggie Julian Coaching Tree

  • Johnny Bach (Golden State Warriors, Penn State, Fordham)
  • Bob Cousy (Kansas City-Omaha Kings, Cincinnati Royals, Boston College)
  • Robert Curran (UMass)
  • Dave Gavitt (Providence, Dartmouth)
  • George Kaftan (LIU Post)
  • Al McGuire (Marquette, Belmont Abbey)
  • Joe Mullaney (Providence, Brown, Norwich, NBA/ABA)
  • Frank Oftring (Holy Cross)
  • Buster Sheary (Holy Cross)

 

^ overall record includes head coaching positions at the NCAA level only