Ed Melvin

Ed Melvin (1916-2004)

Teams coached: St. Bonaventure Bonnies, Toledo Rockets
St. Bonaventure record: 97-46 (.678)
Toledo record: 125-133 (.484)
Overall record: 222-179 (.554)

Career Accomplishments:

• NCAA National Championships:  0
• NCAA Tournament Appearances:  0
• NIT Championships:  0
• NIT Appearances:  2  (1951, 1952)
• Western NY3 Regular Season Champion:  3  (1950, 1951, 1952)

Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):

1954-1965	Toledo
1948-1954	St. Bonaventure

Ed Melvin Facts

• Edward Michael Melvin
• Born February 13, 1916
• Died July 30, 2004
• Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Alma Mater: Duquesne University (BA, 1941)
• Melvin was of Serbian descent and until 1951 went by his birth surname of Milkovich
• Won a state championship at Pittsburgh South HS (PA) then played at Duquesne for longtime coach Chick Davies
  • After college, Melvin served stateside in the United States Army during World War II
  • Spent one season (1946-47) playing with the Pittsburgh Ironmen of the BAA (a precursor to the NBA)
• Hired as the head coach at St. Bonaventure in 1948, leading the Bonnies for the next six years
  • Went 97-46 overall, winning three-straight Western NY3 titles from 1950-52 and going to two NITs
  • The Bonnies finished in 3rd place in the 1952 NIT; that year they ranked as high as #4 and finished at #15 in the AP
• Left for Toledo in 1954, where he served as the Rockets’ head coach for nine seasons
  • Compiled an overall record of 125-133 but failed to reach the postseason
  • His best year was perhaps 1959-60, when UT went 18-6 and ranked as high as #11 during the season
    • That season would start a string of 26-straight winning seasons, the first six of which helmed by Melvin
• Stepped away from coaching in 1965 but remained in Toledo, working as UT’s director of intramurals until retiring 1981
  • Inducted into the Varsity “T” Athletic Hall of Fame in 1987
• Passed away in 2004 after a long battle with dementia and heart problems at the age of 88
  • Survived by his wife of 54 years, Mary Jean, and their two sons, Ed and Tom

Ed Melvin Coaching Tree

• Eddie Donovan (New York Knicks, St. Bonaventure)
• Bob Nichols (Toledo)