University of Wisconsin-Green Bay men's basketball coach Dave Buss speaks to reporters in 1982. PC: Fox 11 Online
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The founding coach of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay men’s basketball program has died, the school announced Monday.
Dave Buss led the Phoenix from its first season in 1969 until 1982. During his tenure, UWGB played in the NAIA, NCAA Division II and NCAA Division I.
Buss had a 271-102 (.726) record in his 13 seasons. Green Bay reached three NCAA Division II Final Fours between 1977-1981, including runner-up finishes in 1977-78 and 1978-79.
“This is a sad day for all of Phoenix Country,” athletic director Josh Moon said in a statement. “Coach Buss was a true legend who is on the ‘Mount Rushmore’ of UWGB. He believed in this University and basketball program when many didn’t. He built a program from scratch in 1969 and took us to heights never imaginable including elevating Phoenix Athletics to Division I in 1981. He was a visionary and helped build the foundation of excellence that we carry forward today. I was fortunate to be in regular contact with Coach over the past two years and I thoroughly enjoyed our conversations. He was thrilled with the transformation of Phoenix basketball this past year and I could tell how much this University, program, and community meant to him. I will miss our chats dearly and am so blessed to have been able to call him a friend and mentor. Our deepest condolences go out to his family, former players, and all who knew him. We are eternally grateful for everything he did for UWGB and this community.”
“As the 10th head coach in Green Bay men’s basketball history, it was an honor two weeks ago to speak to the first head coach at UWGB and take in his words of wisdom,” current coach Doug Gottlieb said in a statement. “Today I’m so very sad to learn of Coach Buss’ passing and just wish I had stayed on the phone longer to learn more from such a brilliant basketball mind, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Coach Buss literally built our program from scratch to a three-time Division II Final Four participant. We want to wish his family our condolences to his family and friends from our entire Phoenix Phamily.”
Buss was inducted into the Phoenix Hall of Fame in 1995.
School leaders say they will look for ways to honor Buss’ legacy in the upcoming year.
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