Remembering a Legend: Tom Gola

Caption: Coach Frank McGuire with Philadelphia Stars, left to right, Tom Gola, Guy Rodgers, Paul Arizin, and Wilt Chamberlain, 1962.

(Photo Courtesy: Urban Archives, Temple University Libraries, Philadelphia. )

It’s a sad day this Sunday evening  in the La Salle University  community as their legendary men’s basketball player Tom Gola has passed away at the age of 81 at St.Joseph’s Manor in Philadelphia (according to Dick Jerardi of Philly.com). LaSalle’s home arena is named in his honor.

High School Career:

The legend’s life started on January 13th,1933 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He played his high school basketball for La Salle College High School which is located in Wyndmoore, Pennsylvania, during his time at La Salle High he lead the Explorers to the 1950 Philadelphia Catholic League Championship. During his time at La Salle High , he was a second team All-Catholic League Selection in 1949 before being named a two time 1st Team All-Catholic League selection in 1950 and 1951. He left La Salle High with a record number of career points with a  total of 1,392 which still stands today.

College Career:

Over the next four years, Gola would turn in one of the greatest college basketball careers of all-time. In 1951, Gola entered La Salle University where he would play forward and center  for the Explorers. Gola’s mark was made as soon as he stepped on campus. In all four of his seasons at La Salle he lead the Explorers in PTS, FG%, FT%, and REB. He made his national mark however in 1954.

The 1954 season was one of the best seasons the college basketball world has ever seen. Gola turned in a historic season in which he won numerous accolades including the Helms Foundation College Basketball Player of the Year, a consensus all-american,  A NCAA All-Tournament team selection and helped lead La Salle to it’s only national championship. During the 1954 season, Gola broke the single season record for rebounds with 652 , free throws made in a single season with 202 and the rebounds per game record with 23.0.

In 1955, Gola was bound to be a force. During the season, he broke multiple single game school  records including most points in a game with 41 (broken) and most rebounds in a single game with 37. He helped lead the Explorers to the NCAA Championship Game before they would lose to the University of San Francisco and future NBA Hall of Famer and the “ultimate champion” Bill Russell. However, the season was another historical one for Gola as he would be named the AP and UPI College Basketball Player of the Year and be selected to another All-American team and NCAA All-Tournament team.

Over his four seasons at La Salle, Gola averaged 20.9 ppg and 18,7 RPG. He scored a total of 2,461 points and 2,201 rebounds which is the NCAA record. He shot a career average of .407% to go along with a free throw average of .745.

Professional Career:

In the 1955 NBA Draft , Gola was selected as a territorial selection by his hometown Philadelphia Warriors. He would go onto play 10 seasons in the NBA as a guard and forward with the Philadelphia Warriors and the New York Knicks . He was selected to five consecutive NBA All-Star games and finished four times in the NBA top 10 in assists, and assists per game. He finished once in the NBA Top 10 in rebounds per game. During the 1957-58 and 1958-59 seasons, he lead the Warriors in assists and also lead the 1963-64 New York  Knicks in assists. He would be named to one 2nd team All-NBA selection (1957-58). He also won the NBA Championship in 1956 with the Philadelphia Warriors.

Coaching Career:

In 1968, he was named the head coach of the LaSalle College Men’s Basketball team and would stay in that position until 1970. During his time as the head coach of the Explorers, he coached what is considered the greatest team in Philadelphia Big 5 history. The 1968-69 Explorers who would go onto have the schools greatest record at 23-1. He  was selected by both the New York and Philadelphia Sportswriters as the collegiate coach of the Year. During his three seasons at LaSalle he compiled a career record of 37-13.

Other Career Allocaldes (Courtesy of Phillyhall.org) :

• Compiled a 37-13 career record coaching the Explorers
• Named to the SPORT Magazine All-Time All-American Team
• Received the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award (1979)
• One of only two players to win a NIT, NCAA, and NBA Championship
• Enshrined in the Madison Square Garden Walk of Fame
• Had his #15 retired by LaSalle University
• Inducted into the LaSalle University Hall of Athletes
• Inducted into the Big 5 Hall of Fame in the coaches category (1986)
• Inducted into the Big 5 Hall of Fame as a pre-Big 5 inductee (2000)
• Inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame
• Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (1976)