K.C. Jones to be inducted into WCC Hall of Honor
San Francisco Dons Legend K.C. Jones Set for Induction Into WCC Hall of Honor
2/14/2012 7:28:00 PM | General, Men's Basketball
Naismith Hall-of_Famer Helped Dons to 1955-56 NCAA Championships
San Francisco Dons Basketball Legend K.C. Jones Set For Induction Into 2012 West Coast Conference Hall of Honor
Naismith Hall-Of-Famer Helped Dons to Back-To-Back NCAA Championships
DONS SOCIAL MEDIA HUB | COMPLETE WCC RELEASE | BANQUET TICKETS | JONES NAISMITH HALL OF FAME PAGE
February 14, 2012
(San Bruno, CA) – Former San Francisco Basketball Legend and Naismith Hall-of-Famer K.C. Jones is one of nine West Coast Conference standouts set for induction into the West Coast Conference Hall of Honor as announced today. A key member of USF's back-to-back NCAA Championship teams in 1955-56, Jones won Olympic Gold before embarking on a storied playing and coaching career with the Boston Celtics.
The induction ceremony, scheduled for Saturday, March 3 at the Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas, will be part of the Conference's celebration of its rich history in athletics and academics during the 2012 Zappos.com West Coast Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Championships from February 29-March 5 at the Orleans Arena.
"This year's WCC Hall of Honor class includes nine, highly accomplished student-athletes and administrators who have made their marks on their respective institutions and beyond," said WCC Commissioner Jamie Zaninovich. "We look forward to recognizing our inductees in Las Vegas as part of our celebration to honor those who represent the West Coast Conference and its long history of athletic and academic excellence."
A graduate of San Francisco's Commerce High School, Jones turned in an All-American career at USF under the tutelage of fellow Naismith Hall-of-Famer Phil Woolpert. In Jones' first year with the Dons in 1952-53, San Francisco posted a 10-11 record. After suffering a season-ending injury the following season, Jones paired with Naismith Hall-of-Famer Bill Russell to propel Dons to the top of the college basketball world. San Francisco won back-to-back NCAA Championships in 1954-55 and 1955-56. After falling to UCLA in the third game of the 1954-55 season, Jones and Russell would not lose another for the remainder of their collegiate careers, rolling to 55 consecutive victories.
A 1956 All-American, Jones again teamed with Russell to win Olympic Gold in the Melbourne Olympics. After a two-year stint in the Army, Jones bypassed a potential NFL career to join Russell in Boston and played a key role in the Celtics dynasty, capturing eight rings in nine seasons under coaching legend Red Auerbach. Known as a tenacious defender and a fearless competitor, Jones averaged 7.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game during his NBA career. Jones' No. 25 jersey was retired by the Celtics and his No. 4 jersey was retired by the Dons.
Following his playing career, Jones turned to coaching and after three seasons as a college head coach won another ring as an assistant coach with the LA Lakers in 1971-72. Jones first NBA head job was with the Washington Bullets where he spent three seasons, including a trip to the 1975 NBA Finals. Jones returned to the Celtics as an assistant coach and won another ring with the franchise in 1980-81.
Jones took the reigns in Boston in 1983 and coached multiple Naismith Hall-of-Famers – Larry Bird, Dennis Johnson, Kevin McHale, Robert Parrish and Bill Walton – to NBA Championships in 1984 and 1986. In 10 seasons as an NBA head coach, Jones compiled a 522-252 (.674) record with five trips to the NBA Finals. No individual in NBA history has collected more championship rings than Jones (12).
Jones joins NBA Don and All-American Joe Ellis, Pro Football Hall-of-Famer Bob St. Clair and soccer legend and NSCAA Hall-of-Famer Steve Negoesco as WCC Hall of Honor inductees for the University of San Francisco.
CLASS OF 2012: In addition to Jones, the 2012 WCC Hall of Honor class includes: BYU's Elaine Michaelis (Volleyball/Administration), Gonzaga University's Blake Stepp (Men's Basketball), Loyola Marymount University's Billy Bean (Baseball), Pepperdine University's Dana Jones (Men's Basketball), University of Portland's Kasey Keller (Men's Soccer), Saint Mary's College's Tom Candiotti (Baseball), University of San Diego's Thomas Burke (Administration), and Santa Clara University's Kurt Rambis (Men's Basketball).
BANQUET DETAILS: All nine Hall of Honor members will be formally inducted at the WCC Hall of Honor Brunch on Saturday, March 5 at 9 a.m. at the Mardi Gras Ballroom in the Orleans Hotel and will be honored during halftime of the first men's semifinal later that evening.
BANQUET TICKETS: Tickets to the WCC Hall of Honor Brunch & Induction Ceremony are available to the public for $40 each and may be purchased online using the Hall of Honor Ticket Form on WCCsports.com (PDF attached). Tickets must be purchased by Tuesday, February 28. For more information on the 2012 WCC Hall of Honor class and how to purchase tickets, please view the complete online release at www.WCCsports.com.
Naismith Hall-Of-Famer Helped Dons to Back-To-Back NCAA Championships
DONS SOCIAL MEDIA HUB | COMPLETE WCC RELEASE | BANQUET TICKETS | JONES NAISMITH HALL OF FAME PAGE
February 14, 2012
(San Bruno, CA) – Former San Francisco Basketball Legend and Naismith Hall-of-Famer K.C. Jones is one of nine West Coast Conference standouts set for induction into the West Coast Conference Hall of Honor as announced today. A key member of USF's back-to-back NCAA Championship teams in 1955-56, Jones won Olympic Gold before embarking on a storied playing and coaching career with the Boston Celtics.
The induction ceremony, scheduled for Saturday, March 3 at the Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas, will be part of the Conference's celebration of its rich history in athletics and academics during the 2012 Zappos.com West Coast Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Championships from February 29-March 5 at the Orleans Arena.
"This year's WCC Hall of Honor class includes nine, highly accomplished student-athletes and administrators who have made their marks on their respective institutions and beyond," said WCC Commissioner Jamie Zaninovich. "We look forward to recognizing our inductees in Las Vegas as part of our celebration to honor those who represent the West Coast Conference and its long history of athletic and academic excellence."
A graduate of San Francisco's Commerce High School, Jones turned in an All-American career at USF under the tutelage of fellow Naismith Hall-of-Famer Phil Woolpert. In Jones' first year with the Dons in 1952-53, San Francisco posted a 10-11 record. After suffering a season-ending injury the following season, Jones paired with Naismith Hall-of-Famer Bill Russell to propel Dons to the top of the college basketball world. San Francisco won back-to-back NCAA Championships in 1954-55 and 1955-56. After falling to UCLA in the third game of the 1954-55 season, Jones and Russell would not lose another for the remainder of their collegiate careers, rolling to 55 consecutive victories.
A 1956 All-American, Jones again teamed with Russell to win Olympic Gold in the Melbourne Olympics. After a two-year stint in the Army, Jones bypassed a potential NFL career to join Russell in Boston and played a key role in the Celtics dynasty, capturing eight rings in nine seasons under coaching legend Red Auerbach. Known as a tenacious defender and a fearless competitor, Jones averaged 7.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game during his NBA career. Jones' No. 25 jersey was retired by the Celtics and his No. 4 jersey was retired by the Dons.
Following his playing career, Jones turned to coaching and after three seasons as a college head coach won another ring as an assistant coach with the LA Lakers in 1971-72. Jones first NBA head job was with the Washington Bullets where he spent three seasons, including a trip to the 1975 NBA Finals. Jones returned to the Celtics as an assistant coach and won another ring with the franchise in 1980-81.
Jones took the reigns in Boston in 1983 and coached multiple Naismith Hall-of-Famers – Larry Bird, Dennis Johnson, Kevin McHale, Robert Parrish and Bill Walton – to NBA Championships in 1984 and 1986. In 10 seasons as an NBA head coach, Jones compiled a 522-252 (.674) record with five trips to the NBA Finals. No individual in NBA history has collected more championship rings than Jones (12).
Jones joins NBA Don and All-American Joe Ellis, Pro Football Hall-of-Famer Bob St. Clair and soccer legend and NSCAA Hall-of-Famer Steve Negoesco as WCC Hall of Honor inductees for the University of San Francisco.
CLASS OF 2012: In addition to Jones, the 2012 WCC Hall of Honor class includes: BYU's Elaine Michaelis (Volleyball/Administration), Gonzaga University's Blake Stepp (Men's Basketball), Loyola Marymount University's Billy Bean (Baseball), Pepperdine University's Dana Jones (Men's Basketball), University of Portland's Kasey Keller (Men's Soccer), Saint Mary's College's Tom Candiotti (Baseball), University of San Diego's Thomas Burke (Administration), and Santa Clara University's Kurt Rambis (Men's Basketball).
BANQUET DETAILS: All nine Hall of Honor members will be formally inducted at the WCC Hall of Honor Brunch on Saturday, March 5 at 9 a.m. at the Mardi Gras Ballroom in the Orleans Hotel and will be honored during halftime of the first men's semifinal later that evening.
BANQUET TICKETS: Tickets to the WCC Hall of Honor Brunch & Induction Ceremony are available to the public for $40 each and may be purchased online using the Hall of Honor Ticket Form on WCCsports.com (PDF attached). Tickets must be purchased by Tuesday, February 28. For more information on the 2012 WCC Hall of Honor class and how to purchase tickets, please view the complete online release at www.WCCsports.com.
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