.jpeg) Ramsay in 1977 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1925-02-21)February 21, 1925 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | April 28, 2014(2014-04-28) (aged 89) Naples, Florida, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Listed weight | 180 lb (82 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Upper Darby (Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania) |
| College | Saint Joseph's (1942–1943, 1946–1949) |
| Playing career | 1949–1955 |
| Position | Guard |
| Coaching career | 1955–1988 |
| Career history | |
| As a player: | |
| 1949–1951 | Harrisburg Senators |
| 1951–1955 | Sunbury Mercuries |
| As a coach: | |
| 1955–1966 | Saint Joseph's |
| 1968–1972 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1972–1976 | Buffalo Braves |
| 1976–1986 | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 1986–1988 | Indiana Pacers |
| Career highlights and awards | |
As player:
As coach:
As executive: | |
| Career coaching record | |
| NBA | 864–783 (.525) |
Record atBasketball Reference  | |
| Basketball Hall of Fame | |
| Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame | |
John Travilla Ramsay (February 21, 1925 – April 28, 2014) was an Americanbasketball coach, commonly known as "Dr. Jack" (as he held an earned doctorate). He was best known for leading thePortland Trail Blazers to the1977 NBA championship, and for his broadcasting work with theIndiana Pacers, theMiami Heat, and forESPN TV andESPN Radio. Ramsay was among the most respected coaches in NBA history and a member of theNaismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He was the winner of theChuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award for the2009–10 NBA season.[1]
John Travilla Ramsay was born on February 21, 1925, inPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania. Growing up inMilford, Connecticut, Ramsay was encouraged to participate in sports in grade school by his parents, Anne and John. The family moved outside Philadelphia and Ramsay graduated fromUpper Darby High School in 1942. Years after playing basketball, baseball and soccer in high school, he was inducted into the school's Wall of Fame in 1979.[2]
Strongly encouraged by his mother to attend college, Ramsay enteredSaint Joseph's College. Ramsay's college career was interrupted by three years of service in theUS Navy duringWorld War II. Ramsay played both basketball and baseball at St. Joseph's. In his senior year, Ramsay was coached in baseball byRalph Young (baseball), a teammate of professional baseball starTy Cobb. In 1949, Ramsay became the first member of his family to receive a collegebachelor's degree. In 1962, Ramsay obtained hismaster's degree and in 1963 hisdoctorate degree ineducation, both from theUniversity of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia[3]
After graduation, Ramsay played six seasons of professional basketball in theEastern Professional Basketball League (EPBL). As a sophomore playing guard, he was the second-leading scorer for theHarrisburg Senators inHarrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Ramsay played for the Sunbury Mercuries from 1951 to 1955.
Ramsay averaged 14 points in his career playing for the Senators and inSunbury, Pennsylvania professional team. He was selected to the All-EPBL team four times.[4] To supplement his playing income, he coached basketball atSt. James High School for Boys inChester, Pennsylvania and later atMount Pleasant High School, 1953–4, inWilmington, Delaware.[5]
After coaching in thehigh school and minor-league ranks during the early postwar years, Ramsay became head coach at St Joseph's in 1955. Ramsay got the job after accidentally meeting the college's moderator of athletics at aPhiladelphia Phillies baseball game. Ramsay was hired as coach for the 1955-56 basketball season for $3,500.
In Ramsay's first season at St Joseph, the Hawks went 23–6 to win their firstBig 5 crown. This first season also marked the school's first-ever postseason playoff berth, in which St Joseph placed third in theNIT after losing to theUniversity of Dayton. Ramsay would remain at St. Joseph's through 1966, leading the Hawks to six more Big 5 crowns, five straight seasons of first-place finishes in the Middle Atlantic Conference, ten postseason appearances, and aFinal Four stint in 1961.
At age 41, after leading his team to a 24–5 record in 1965–66, Ramsay was diagnosed with anedema on theretina of his right eye. Ramsay left his coaching job with the Hawks on the doctors' recommendation that he reduce stress. Ramsay finished with a record of 234–72 in 11 years.[5] He would remain the winningest coach in St. Joseph's history untilPhil Martelli passed him in 2005.
After leaving St Joseph's, Ramsay was hired as general manager by thePhiladelphia 76ers. Team ownerIrv Kosloff gave Ramsay a three-year $25,000 deal.
In 1968, Ramsay became the 76ers head coach. In Ramsay's first game coaching an NBA team, the 76ers zone press won 114–96 against theLos Angeles Lakers at the Spectrum, even though Lakers playersJerry West,Elgin Baylor andWilt Chamberlain combined for 71 points. The 76ers finished that first season with Coach Ramsay 55–27. The 76ers led the NBA in scoring (119 points per game) as a result of Ramsay's style of aggressive pressing defense.
In his four seasons as 76ers coach, Ramsay led the team to three playoff appearances. While the 76ers continued to be contenders, it was apparent that they were not the powerhouse that had been in the late 1960s. The team collapsed in1971–72, when the 76ers posted a 30–52 record and missed the playoffs for the first time in team history. Only five years earlier, the Sixers had fielded the best record in league history.
Ramsay signed a three‐year contract to succeedJohn McCarthy as the third-ever head coach of theBuffalo Braves on April 6, 1972. He inherited a team that finished each of the first two years of its existence in last place in the Atlantic Division.[6] After compiling a losing 21–61 record in that first season in Buffalo, Ramsay had the team double their win total the next season by finishing first among the league's 17 teams in offense (111.6) even though they were last in defense (111.8). That second season in Buffalo had Ramsay leading the Braves to the playoffs, where they pushed the eventual champion Celtics to six games in the conference semifinals.[5] His Buffalo tenure was almost a mirror image of his time with the Sixers—four seasons, three playoff berths; however, he did not leave Buffalo in the sort of wreckage that had occurred in Philadelphia. Instead, ownerPaul Snyder was in the process of selling the team to out-of-town interests (the economy ofWestern New York was unable to support both the Braves and hockey'sSabres as evidenced by the Braves' attendance figures at the time but Snyder lost interest) and Ramsay requested not to be a part of the upheaval.[7] His contract was not renewed on May 3, 1976, the day after the Braves were eliminated by the Celtics from theplayoffs.[8] In his four seasons with the Braves, Ramsay compiled a record of 158–170.
In 1976, Ramsay became the head coach of thePortland Trail Blazers. When Ramsay arrived, the Blazers had not made the playoffs or compiled a winning season record in their six-year history. However, a young Blazers team, led byBill Walton, was starting to jell. Ramsay also benefited from the 1976ABA dispersal draft, in which the Blazers obtainedpower forwardMaurice Lucas.
In his first season in Portland (1977), Ramsay led the Blazers to their first NBA title. In his second season, the Blazers were 50–10 after 60 games and favored to repeat as NBA champions. However, Walton broke his foot, ending the Blazers' winning prospects. Ramsay continued to coach the Blazers until 1986 with general success. However, he never equaled the achievements of his first seasons. During Ramsay's last nine seasons in Portland, the Blazers only won two playoff series. He also coached the Western Conference side in the 1978All-Star Game.
Ramsay took over as coach of theIndiana Pacers for the1986–87 season. Ramsay coached the Pacers to their second non-losing record as an NBA team. However, Ramsay was unable to duplicate that success in later seasons. Ramsay resigned as Pacers coach during the1988–89 season after a 0–7 start.
When Ramsay left the Pacers, he was second on the all-time wins list for NBA coaches with 864 wins, trailing onlyRed Auerbach. When he retired, Ramsay had the most combined college and professional wins of any coach.[9] In 1992, Ramsay was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.[5] The Trail Blazers retired Number 77 in Ramsay's honor on Jan. 14, 1993, symbolically recognizing the 1977 Championship.[10] In 1996, he was voted one of the 10 greatest coaches in NBA history.
After his coaching career ended, Ramsay spent nine years as a televisioncolor commentator for thePhiladelphia 76ers and theMiami Heat. The games were broadcast fromSouth Florida's Sunshine Network (nowSun Sports),Fox Sports Florida, and sometimes local Miami stationWBFS (then aUPN affiliate). Ramsay worked alongside announcerEric Reid.
During Ramsay's tenure as Heat commentator, he developed some memorable nicknames and phrases for the Heat players. Wheneverpoint guardTim Hardaway made a three-point shot, Ramsay shouted, "this away, that away, Hardaway!" WhenAlonzo Mourning dunked the ball, Ramsay exclaimed "Zo with the stuffa!". Whenever a Heat player made a nice shot, Ramsay screamed "bottom of the net!" Also on ESPN Radio national broadcasts he coined the phrases, "One hand slamma" after a one handed dunk and, "two hand slamma jamma" after a two handed dunk.
Between 1996 and 2012, Ramsay called 15 NBA Finals forESPN Radio, serving as the network's top analyst.[11] He joinedESPN from the Heat full-time in 2000.[12]
In addition to his TV and radio work, Ramsay authored several books, includingThe Coach's Art (ISBN 0-917304-36-5) andDr. Jack's Leadership Lessons Learned From a Lifetime in Basketball (ISBN 0-471-46929-7).Dr.Jack also co-authored several books one of which is entitled “Coaching for Performance Improvement” with Jim Lynch (ISBN 0-7618-2805-2).
Ramsay married Jean Duffey in 1954 and remained married to her until her death. Jean contracted Alzheimer's in 2001 and died in 2010. The Ramsays had five children, Susan, John, Sharon (who marriedJim O'Brien), Chris, and Carolyn.[13]
Ramsay served in theUnited States Navy in World War II and was a Navyfrogman. Ramsay's unit trained forOperation Downfall. Ramsay continued to be highly physically fit well after his Navy training days and completed triathlons until the age of 70.[14]
Ramsay's son-in-lawJim O'Brien has been the head coach of theBoston Celtics,Philadelphia 76ers,Indiana Pacers and TheUniversity of Dayton, and grandson Jack O'Brien was the editor-in-chief of humor websiteCracked.com. Grandson Geoff Dailey played baseball at Wesleyan University.[citation needed] His two eldest children, Susan and John, have doctoral degrees and taught at the college level. Another son, John, was an assistant dean atCarleton College. Ramsay counted the lateDavid Halberstam andGay Talese as his friends.[15] Ramsay was a devoutRoman Catholic.[16] An avid amateurtennis player, Ramsay andVan Miller (the Braves' radio announcer and a close friend of Ramsay's) often played as a doubles team.[17]
Ramsay had a pair ofconcussions in his playing career; one happened while playing a college game in 1948, the second in 1954 during an Eastern League game. In 1999, a routine medical exam revealed an early diagnosis ofprostate cancer. The ensuing therapy led to a successful treatment that Ramsay didn't miss a single game that season as commentator. In October 2004, Ramsay was diagnosed withmelanoma. He had another bout with the disease in his later years. On May 10, 2013, Ramsay announced that he was again starting cancer treatment, ending his broadcasting career.[18]
Ramsay died of cancer in his sleep the night of April 28, 2014.[19][20] He was 89. Ramsay's longtime employerESPN announced his death on Twitter.[21]
| Regular season | G | Games coached | W | Games won | L | Games lost | W–L % | Win–loss % |
| Playoffs | PG | Playoff games | PW | Playoff wins | PL | Playoff losses | PW–L % | Playoff win–loss % |
| Team | Year | G | W | L | W–L% | Finish | PG | PW | PL | PW–L% | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | 1968–69 | 82 | 55 | 27 | .671 | 2nd in East | 5 | 1 | 4 | .200 | Lost inDivision semifinals |
| Philadelphia | 1969–70 | 82 | 42 | 40 | .512 | 4th in East | 5 | 1 | 4 | .200 | Lost inDivision semifinals |
| Philadelphia | 1970–71 | 82 | 47 | 35 | .573 | 2nd in Atlantic | 7 | 3 | 4 | .429 | Lost inConf. Semifinals |
| Philadelphia | 1971–72 | 82 | 30 | 52 | .366 | 3rd in Atlantic | — | — | — | — | Missed Playoffs |
| Buffalo | 1972–73 | 82 | 21 | 61 | .256 | 3rd in Atlantic | — | — | — | — | Missed Playoffs |
| Buffalo | 1973–74 | 82 | 42 | 40 | .512 | 3rd in Atlantic | 6 | 2 | 4 | .333 | Lost inConf. Semifinals |
| Buffalo | 1974–75 | 82 | 49 | 33 | .598 | 2nd in Atlantic | 7 | 3 | 4 | .429 | Lost inConf. Semifinals |
| Buffalo | 1975–76 | 82 | 46 | 36 | .561 | 2nd in Atlantic | 9 | 4 | 5 | .444 | Lost inConf. Semifinals |
| Portland | 1976–77 | 82 | 49 | 33 | .598 | 2nd in Pacific | 19 | 14 | 5 | .737 | WonNBA Championship |
| Portland | 1977–78 | 82 | 58 | 24 | .707 | 1st in Pacific | 6 | 2 | 4 | .333 | Lost inConf. Semifinals |
| Portland | 1978–79 | 82 | 45 | 37 | .549 | 4th in Pacific | 3 | 1 | 2 | .333 | Lost inFirst round |
| Portland | 1979–80 | 82 | 38 | 44 | .463 | 4th in Pacific | 3 | 1 | 2 | .333 | Lost inFirst round |
| Portland | 1980–81 | 82 | 45 | 37 | .549 | 3rd in Pacific | 3 | 1 | 2 | .333 | Lost inFirst round |
| Portland | 1981–82 | 82 | 42 | 40 | .512 | 5th in Pacific | — | — | — | — | Missed Playoffs |
| Portland | 1982–83 | 82 | 46 | 36 | .561 | 4th in Pacific | 7 | 3 | 4 | .429 | Lost inConf. Semifinals |
| Portland | 1983–84 | 82 | 48 | 34 | .585 | 2nd in Pacific | 5 | 2 | 3 | .400 | Lost inFirst round |
| Portland | 1984–85 | 82 | 42 | 40 | .512 | 2nd in Pacific | 9 | 4 | 5 | .444 | Lost inConf. Semifinals |
| Portland | 1985–86 | 82 | 40 | 42 | .482 | 2nd in Pacific | 4 | 1 | 3 | .250 | Lost inFirst round |
| Indiana | 1986–87 | 82 | 41 | 41 | .500 | 4th in Central | 4 | 1 | 3 | .250 | Lost inFirst round |
| Indiana | 1987–88 | 82 | 38 | 44 | .463 | 6th in Central | — | — | — | — | Missed Playoffs |
| Indiana | 1988–89 | 7 | 0 | 7 | .000 | (resigned) | — | — | — | — | - |
| Career | 1,647 | 864 | 783 | .525 | 102 | 44 | 58 | .431 |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |