Richard “Doc” Sauers

Richard “Doc” Sauers (born April 3, 1930)

Teams coached: Albany Great Danes
Albany record: 702-330 (.680)
Overall record^: 702-330 (.680)

Career Accomplishments:

  • NCAA National Championships:  0
  • NCAA Tournament Appearances:  0
  • NIT Championships:  0
  • NIT Appearances:  0
  • SUNYAC (Div II) Regular Season Champion:  3  (1977, 1979, 1981)
  • ECAC Upstate (Div II/III) Tournament Champion:  (1978, 1989)
  • NCAA Division II Tournament Appearances:  1  (1969)
  • NCAA Division III Tournament Appearances:  10  (1975, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1985, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995)

Awards:

Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):

1988-1997 Albany
1955-1987 Albany

Doc Sauers Facts

  • Richard Sauers
  • Born April 3, 1930
  • Hometown: Harrison City, Pennsylvania
  • Alma Mater: Slippery Rock University (BA, 1951)
  • Played both tennis and basketball at Slippery Rock; later inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame (class of 2000)
  • Coached the UAlbany program for a total of 41 seasons over 42 years, during which time the program transitioned from NAIA to the NCAA College Division (in 1962), then to Division III (in 1973) and Division II (in 1995)
    • Went 702-330 across all levels, going to a total of 11 NCAA Tournaments and winning three conference titles
    • Named NABC Div III COY in 1985 and was named East Region and New York State COY three times in his career
    • The school and program underwent a number of name changes during his tenure, starting as New York State College for Teachers at Albany onto SUNY Albany and its current UAlbany; the athletic nickname also changed from
    • Also coached men’s golf from 1962-73, women’s golf from 1998-2012 and baseball in 1958 and 1959
      • Won the America East women’s golf title in 2009 and 2010 and was named league COY both years
    • Retired in 2012 after 57 years at the school; inducted into the UAlbany Athletics HOF in 2003
  • Along with his wife, Evelyn, has one daughter and one son; his son, Stephen, played for Doc at Albany and later became a college basketball coach, as well

Doc Sauers Coaching Tree

 

^ overall record includes seasons at the NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA levels; Albany moved up to D-I in 1999