John Egli

John Egli (1921-1982)

Teams coached: Penn State Nittany Lions
Penn State record: 187-135 (.581)
Overall record: 187-135 (.581)

Career Accomplishments:

• NCAA National Championships:  0
• NCAA Tournament Appearances:  2  (1955, 1965)
• NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen:  1  (1955)
• NCAA Tournament Final Four:  0
• NIT Championships:  0
• NIT Appearances:  1  (1966)

Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):

1954-1968	Penn State
1949-1954	Penn State (asst)

John Egli Facts

• John J. Egli
• Born 1921
• Died July 1, 1982
• Hometown: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
• Alma Mater: Pennsylvania State University (BA, 1943)
• The PA-native played basketball at Penn State for three seasons; was coached by John Lawther
  • Egli served as a co-captain as a senior in 1943 and was named to the All-NCAA Tournament team
• Returned to his alma mater in 1949 to be an assistant basketball coach under Elmer Gross
  • Part of two NCAA Tournaments in five years as an assistant, including the Lions’ 1954 Final Four run
• Elevated to head coach in 1954 following Gross’ retirement, leading the team for 14 seasons
  • Went 187-135 over his tenure at the helm, highlighted by NCAA bids in 1955 & 1965 and a NIT bid in 1966
    • Egli led the Lions to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen in 1955, his first year as head coach
  • Resigned from his coaching position in 1968 after going 10-10 (and 10-14 in the year prior)
• Egli was also an assistant professor at Penn State; the University now presents the John S. Egli Outstanding Scholar Athlete Award in his honor, which annually recognizes an outstanding male and female scholar athlete
• Died in 1982 at the age of 61 following a long battle with cancer
  • Posthumously inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 1993

John Egli Coaching Tree

• Tom Carmody (Rhode Island)
• Bob Weiss (Seattle SuperSonics, Los Angeles Clippers, Atlanta Hawks, San Antonio Spurs)