Johnny Dee

Johnny Dee (1923-1999)

Teams coached: Alabama Crimson Tide, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Alabama record: 68-25 (.731)
Notre Dame record: 116-80 (.592)
Overall record: 184-105 (.637)

Career Accomplishments:

  • NCAA National Championships:  0
  • NCAA Tournament Appearances:  4  (1965, 1969, 1970, 1971)
  • NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen:  2  (1970, 1971)
  • NCAA Tournament Final Four:  0
  • NIT Championships:  0
  • NIT Appearances:  1  (1968)
  • SEC Regular Season Champion:  1  (1956)

Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):

1964-1971 Notre Dame
1952-1956 Alabama
1951-1952 Notre Dame (asst)

Johnny Dee Facts

  • John Francis Dee, Jr.
  • Born September 12, 1923
  • Died April 24, 1999
  • Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
  • Alma Mater: Loyola University Chicago (BA, 1947) / University of Notre Dame (JD, 1952)
  • Born in Iowa and raised in Chicago, Dee attended Loyola Academy
  • Played for Thomas Haggerty at Loyola (IL) and Moose Krause, Clem Crowe and Elmer Ripley at Notre Dame
    • Served in the Coast Guard for two years during World War II
  • First coaching job was at St. Mel HS in Chicago; coached in the winter and attended law school at Notre Dame in the summer
  • Spent one season on John Jordan‘s staff at Notre Dame while finishing his degree
  • Became one of the youngest head coaches in the country when he was hired to take over at Alabama in 1952 at just 29 years old
    • Went 68-25 during his tenure and led the Tide to their second-ever SEC title in 1956
  • Coached the Denver-Chicago Truckers if the NIBL for five seasons
  • Returned to alma mater, Notre Dame, in 1964 to coach the Fighting Irish
    • Compiled a 116-80 record over seven seasons, going to four NCAA Tournaments (with two Sweet Sixteens) and one NIT
    • Among those he coached at ND was consensus NPOY Austin Carr
    • Retired from coaching in 1971 following four-straight 20-win seasons
  • Moved back to Denver after coaching to resume his law career
    • Later served as manager of parks and recreation and became the city auditor
  • Diagnosed with cancer in 1998 and passed away in 1999 at the age of 75
  • Along with his wife, Katherine, had one daughter and two sons

Johnny Dee Coaching Tree

 

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