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)