Taps Gallagher
Taps Gallagher (1904-1982)
Teams coached: Niagara Purple Eagles
Niagara record: 465-261 (.640)
Overall record: 465-261 (.640)
Career Accomplishments:
- NCAA National Championships: 0
- NCAA Tournament Appearances: 0
- NIT Championships: 0
- NIT Appearances: 7 (1950, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1961)
- Western NY3 Regular Season Champion: 6 (1948, 1949, 1950, 1953, 1954, 1955)
Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):
| 1946-1965 | Niagara |
| 1931-1943 | Niagara |
Taps Gallagher Facts
- John Joseph Gallagher
- Born July 16, 1904
- Died February 7, 1982
- Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
- Alma Mater: St. John’s University (BA, 1927)
- Gallagher played both football and basketball at St. John’s, the latter for head coach John Crenny
- Spent a total of 31 seasons – over two stints – as the head men’s basketball coach at Niagara
- Went 465-261 overall as head coach, winning six Western NY3 titles and going to the NIT seven times
- The break between stints was due to World War II; Gallagher had served in the United States Navy
- Inducted into the Niagara Hall of Fame in 1979 and the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 1996
- In May 1982, Niagara renamed its home basketball arena (built in 1949) the “Gallagher Center”
- Gallagher also served as athletic director at Niagara from 1931-69, overseeing all of the school’s athletic programs
- He also coached the Purple Eagles football team for one year (1936), going 3-5
- Gallagher passed away in 1982 at the age of 77; he was survived by his wife, Alma, their daughter and two granddaughters
Taps Gallagher Coaching Tree
- Hubie Brown (Memphis Grizzlies, New York Knicks, Atlanta Hawks, Kentucky Colonels)
- Larry Costello (Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, Utica)
- Edward Flynn (Niagara)
- Frank Layden (Utah Jazz, Niagara, Dowling)