Basketball: Philadelphia U's Herb Magee Headed To The Hall of Fame
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - What does 922 wins as a college basketball coach get you?
If you are Herb Magee, it gets you a spot in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Magee was announced today as a member of the 2011 class. He will enter the Hall this year with such basketball stars as Dennis Rodman, Chris Mullin, and women's star Theresa Edwards.
"It's just so exciting because it's a culmination of a lot of wishes and hopes and it's just a wonderful, wonderful thing to happen," he told KYW's Matt Leon shortly after the announcement. "I'm so proud, not just for myself, but my family and the university."
Hear Matt Leon's entire interview with Coach Herb Magee in this CBS Philly SportsPod...
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"It's a big thrill and it's just getting better and better," Magee added. "Tonight we go on at halftime of the National Championship game, they introduce the class. And they tell me the best part is in August at the enshrinement."
Magee has spent his entire career at Division II Philadelphia University (formerly Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science) -- as a player, assistant coach, and head coach.
Magee won a National Championship in 1970, and he has taken his Rams to the NCAA Tournament 25 times.
During the 2009-2010 season, Magee passed Bobby Knight at the top of the NCAA men's coaching wins list.
He says it's still a bit surreal to think of himself as a Hall of Famer:
"I think what will happen in the next week or two, when I get home and get out on the golf course, which is where I belong, and start playing golf with my buddies, I'm sure it will be starting to sink in then."
Magee, 69, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame during festivities in Springfield, Mass., on August 12th.
Former 76ers standout Maurice Cheeks was a finalist for the Hall this year as well (see previous story), but did not get in.
Reported by Matt Leon, KYW Newsradio 1060.
