Yale Bulletin
and Calendar

March 29-April 5, 1999Volume 27, Number 26




























Coach Dick Kuchen resigning after 13 years
at the helm of the men's basketball team

Men's basketball coach Dick Kuchen announced on March 12 that he would be resigning from that post.

Kuchen compiled a 151-189 record in 13 seasons and had the longest tenure of any current Ivy League coach. His 151 victories were the second most by a men's basketball coach in Yale history.

The Bulldogs finished in the top half of the Ivy League seven times under Kuchen, Yale's 21st basketball coach. His 1989-90 squad posted a 19-7 overall record and finished second in the Ivy League with a 10-4 mark. The
19 wins represented the most by a Yale team in 41 years. The Bulldogs won 17 games under Kuchen in 1991-92. This past season, Yale finished with a 4-22 overall mark. One of those wins was a 60-58 double-overtime victory over Princeton on Feb. 12, which snapped the Tigers' 35-game Ivy League win streak.

Kuchen's teams have been known for their defense. Four times in the 1990s, the Bulldogs ranked in the top 10 nationally in team defense, including 1991 when they were third. In the same span, Yale was in the top 15 in field goal percentage defense two different seasons.

The Coach has also been active in the New Haven community. Each summer, he directed the Yale Basketball Camp, which attracted more than 100 boys and girls. In October, he received the Farnam Neighborhood House "Service Award," which honors individuals who have made a "significant contribution to the lives of the Farnam children and the Fair Haven community."

"Coach Kuchen has done a lot for the Yale basketball community, and we thank him for his contributions," said Tom Beckett, director of athletics.

Before coming to Yale, Kuchen was the head coach of the University of California 1978-85. He also was an assistant coach at Iowa under Lute Olsen 1970-75 and at Notre Dame 1975-78. In his final year at South Bend, he helped Digger Phelps steer the Irish to their only Final Four berth. Kuchen and Phelps were teammates at Rider College in Lawrenceville, N.J., where Kuchen started all four years and topped 1,000 points for his career. He graduated in 1966 with a Bachelor of Science degree.

A native of Asbury Park, N.J., Kuchen was drafted by the St. Louis Hawks and played two seasons with the Columbus (Ohio) Comets of the Mid-Western League. He launched his coaching career by leading the Art Institute of Pittsburgh to a 22-1 record and the finals of the National Little College Tournament in 1968. The following season, he served as an assistant at Washington University of St. Louis.


T H I SW E E K ' SS T O R I E S

'Yale Constructs'--Program will explore future plans for campus facilities
Happy 350th Birthday, Elihu!--Yale will honor the man for whom it is named
Photosynthesis in a test tube? Scientists find a way . . .
Noted historian to present talk on 'moral authority' of U.S. presidency
Bennett will continue efforts to strengthen Yale's libraries
This year's DeVane Medals go to two English professors
League commissioner David Stern to speak on managing 'Global NBA'
Drama student sharing her love of dance in campus classes
Technology's impact on nation is topic of Sheffield Lecture
Coach Dick Kuchen resigning after 13 years at the helm . . .
'Missing' work will be performed for first time in nearly 40 years
Vladimir Petrov dies -- taught Russian at Yale
Grants support innovative new projects using digital media
Campus Notes


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