Lenny Sachs

Lenny Sachs (1897-1942)

Teams coached: Loyola Ramblers
Loyola (IL) record: 224-129 (.635)
Overall record: 224-129 (.635)

Career Accomplishments:

  • NCAA National Championships:  0
  • NCAA Tournament Appearances:  0
  • NIT Championships:  0  (Runner-up in 1939)
  • NIT Appearances:  1  (1939)

Awards:

  • Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (inducted 1961)

Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):

1923-1942 Loyola (IL)

Lenny Sachs Facts

  • Leonard David Sachs
  • Born August 7, 1897
  • Died October 27, 1942
  • Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
  • Alma Mater: American College of Physical Education (BA, 1923) / Loyola University Chicago (MA, 1935)
  • Attended Carl Schurz HS in Chicago, where the star athlete earned eleven varsity letters
    • Served with the US Navy during World War I from 1917-1919
  • After the war, Sachs attended and graduated from the American College of Physical Education (later part of DePaul University)
    • During his time in college, Sachs played professional football for the NFL’s Chicago Cardinals
  • Continued his playing career after college, playing for the Milwaukee Badgers, Hammond Pros and Louisville Colonels
  • Became the head men’s basketball coach at Loyola in 1923, while still playing football during the fall
    • Coached the Ramblers for 19 seasons, compiling an overall record of 224-129
    • Was also an assistant football coach at the school under Roger Kiley
    • Loyola was an Independent for his whole tenure and much of his career took place before the NIT and NCAA Tournaments
      • His 1928-29 squad went a perfect 16-0, part of a streak of 31 straight victories spanning three seasons
      • Did finish Runner-up in the second ever NIT (1939), falling to Long Island in their only loss of the season (21-1)
    • Served as Loyola’s first athletic director from 1935-40
    • Known for his innovations on both offense and defense, including a style that prompted making goaltending illegal in 1937
  • Died from a heart attack in October 1942 at just 45 years old

Lenny Sachs Coaching Tree

  • John Connelly (Loyola IL)