Gus Ganakas

Teams coached: Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State record: 89-84 (.514)
Overall record: 89-84 (.514)

1998-2000	Michigan State (special asst. to the HC)
1969-1976	Michigan State
1966-1969	Michigan State (asst)

Augustus George Ganakas
Born July 3, 1926
Died January 11, 2019
Hometown: Mount Morris, New York
Alma Mater: Michigan State University (BA, 1949 & MA, 1950)
A New York-native, Ganakas served in the US Marine Corps during WWII then graduated from Michigan State
Early in his career, he coached and taught at East Lansing HS (MI); won a state championship in 1958
Began working at MSU in a fund-raising capacity in 1964 and then became one of John E. Benington‘s assistant coaches with the basketball program in 1966
In 1969, following Benington’s sudden and tragic death, Ganakas became the Spartans’ head coach
- Led Sparty for seven seasons, compiling an overall record of 89-84
- Finished above .500 most seasons but never placed higher that 4th in the Big Ten; dismissed in 1976
Spent 32 years as a radio analyst with the Spartan Sports Network, continuing to work closely with the school and program
- From 1976 to 1988, Ganakas was also the assistant AD at Michigan State
- Served as a special assistant to head coach Tom Izzo for two seasons (1998-2000)
Member of both the Greater Lansing Area Sports HOF and the East Lansing HS HOF
Passed away in 2019 at the age of 92; health issues had forced him to step out of the radio booth two years earlier