Central Michigan University Athletics
CMU Announces Plan to Name Practice Facility After Dick Parfitt
9/2/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MOUNT PLEASANT -- Dick Parfitt’s name has been synonymous with success at Central Michigan University.
Whether it was as a two-sport student-athlete or a championship winning coach, Parfitt’s résumé of success stands out in the history of CMU Athletics.
The coach who led the Chippewa men’s basketball program to three Mid-American Conference titles in the 1970s was back in the spotlight last week as he was named the honorary chairperson for the CMU/Mount Pleasant Gus Macker Festival and became the first "honorary coach" inducted into the Gus Macker Hall of Fame.
And, in conjunction with the event, CMU is announcing that the practice facility being constructed as part of the CMU Events Center project will be named in Parfitt’s honor. A group of Parfitt’s former CMU players has come together to raise the $500,000 necessary to sponsor the naming of the facility.
“I owe the honor to my former players and I’m deeply touched,” Parfitt said. “There is nothing like the players that went through Central during my tenure. I had great players during my career and have been able to stay in touch with many of them. I enjoy those friendships and am very thankful to all them for making this possible.”
“Coach Parfitt is a pillar of the men’s basketball program at CMU,” former player Dave Grauzer said. “He brought home three MAC championships, and was a great competitor. He’s a good man with strong family values, and I couldn’t be happier for him.”
Parfitt won 192 games in 14 seasons as CMU’s head basketball coach, the second-most of any coach in program history. His three MAC titles—1975, 1977, 1979—are the most for any head basketball coach at CMU.
The Mount Pleasant resident was named MAC Coach of the Year in 1975. In his fourth year at the helm of the program, Parfitt led the Chippewas to an overall record of 22-6, their first MAC title and a 77-75 win over Georgetown in the Mideast Regional of the NCAA Tournament that season.
Parfitt’s 1977 championship team also appeared in the NCAA Tournament, while the 1979 squad participated in the National Invitational Tournament (NIT).
“Coach Parfitt was one of the most competitive and solid individuals I have ever had the pleasure of knowing,” former Chippewa Peter Lambropoulos said. “He was involved and concerned about every one of his players both on and off the court. My experience with him has done nothing short of helping me in every aspect of my life. It was a pleasure to play for a man like Dick Parfitt, and a real honor to have been given the opportunity.”
Six of the seven Chippewas who have their jersey numbers retired played at least one season under Parfitt. James McElroy, Melvin McLaughlin, Ben Kelso, Dan Roundfield, Dan Majerle and Ben Poquette all were part of Chippewa teams led by Parfitt, and all six were eventually selected in the NBA Draft.
Parfitt’s exploits were not limited to the sideline, however.
The dual-sport athlete lettered in both basketball and baseball during his collegiate career at CMU. He led the Chippewas in scoring both of his final two seasons, averaging 10.2 points per game in 1952 and 16.5 points per game in 1953. Parfitt was tabbed the team’s most valuable player following his senior season in 1953.
He led the nation in free throw shooting percentage in 1953, converting 93-of-105 free throws for 88.5 percent. He still holds CMU’s single-season free throw percentage record.
Parfitt was inducted into CMU’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990. At the time, he was just the 10th coach to be inducted.
“When I started at Central, there were no buildings past Preston Road,” Parfitt said. “We started out playing in Central Hall, which most people don’t even remember, and moved to Finch Fieldhouse my final two years as a player. There was tremendous growth at CMU back then, just as there has been the last few years. The place is booming now.”
The legendary coach has remained in Mount Pleasant, giving him a chance to stay connected with the university he called home for so many years.
“I love that my wife and I stayed here in Mount Pleasant,” Parfitt said. “We go down to Florida sometimes during the winter, but we stayed in Mount Pleasant because we love the town and the university. We spent our first married year here when I was a senior at CMU, we jumped at the chance to come back in 1962 and stayed here ever since. It’s a great town, and CMU is what makes it a great town.”
Several former players, including Leonard Drake, David Outwin, Dave Grauzer, Vern Anderson, James McElroy and Dave Ginsberg, joined current head coach Ernie Zeigler on the stage during Saturday’s ceremony that announced Parfitt as the honorary grand marshal for the event as well as the intentions of his former players to raise the money necessary to attach his name to the practice facility.
Once everyone was on stage, Gus Macker tournament director, founder, and 1979 CMU Alum Scott McNeal had one more announcement: He and his foundation also contributed $10,000 in Parfitt’s name toward CMU’s Events Center project, a building that Parfitt feels is critical to Central’s success moving forward.
“We really need the Events Center,” Parfitt said. “When its finished, it will not only help the campus, but it will give (head men’s basketball coach) Ernie (Zeigler) and (head women’s basketball coach) Sue (Guevara) something to recruit with. I love Rose Arena. We opened it with my early teams, and it’s a great building when it’s full, but it’s tough to recruit to. The overall benefit it will serve for the campus is immeasurable.”
Whether it was as a two-sport student-athlete or a championship winning coach, Parfitt’s résumé of success stands out in the history of CMU Athletics.
The coach who led the Chippewa men’s basketball program to three Mid-American Conference titles in the 1970s was back in the spotlight last week as he was named the honorary chairperson for the CMU/Mount Pleasant Gus Macker Festival and became the first "honorary coach" inducted into the Gus Macker Hall of Fame.
And, in conjunction with the event, CMU is announcing that the practice facility being constructed as part of the CMU Events Center project will be named in Parfitt’s honor. A group of Parfitt’s former CMU players has come together to raise the $500,000 necessary to sponsor the naming of the facility.
“I owe the honor to my former players and I’m deeply touched,” Parfitt said. “There is nothing like the players that went through Central during my tenure. I had great players during my career and have been able to stay in touch with many of them. I enjoy those friendships and am very thankful to all them for making this possible.”
“Coach Parfitt is a pillar of the men’s basketball program at CMU,” former player Dave Grauzer said. “He brought home three MAC championships, and was a great competitor. He’s a good man with strong family values, and I couldn’t be happier for him.”
Parfitt won 192 games in 14 seasons as CMU’s head basketball coach, the second-most of any coach in program history. His three MAC titles—1975, 1977, 1979—are the most for any head basketball coach at CMU.
The Mount Pleasant resident was named MAC Coach of the Year in 1975. In his fourth year at the helm of the program, Parfitt led the Chippewas to an overall record of 22-6, their first MAC title and a 77-75 win over Georgetown in the Mideast Regional of the NCAA Tournament that season.
Parfitt’s 1977 championship team also appeared in the NCAA Tournament, while the 1979 squad participated in the National Invitational Tournament (NIT).
“Coach Parfitt was one of the most competitive and solid individuals I have ever had the pleasure of knowing,” former Chippewa Peter Lambropoulos said. “He was involved and concerned about every one of his players both on and off the court. My experience with him has done nothing short of helping me in every aspect of my life. It was a pleasure to play for a man like Dick Parfitt, and a real honor to have been given the opportunity.”
Six of the seven Chippewas who have their jersey numbers retired played at least one season under Parfitt. James McElroy, Melvin McLaughlin, Ben Kelso, Dan Roundfield, Dan Majerle and Ben Poquette all were part of Chippewa teams led by Parfitt, and all six were eventually selected in the NBA Draft.
Parfitt’s exploits were not limited to the sideline, however.
The dual-sport athlete lettered in both basketball and baseball during his collegiate career at CMU. He led the Chippewas in scoring both of his final two seasons, averaging 10.2 points per game in 1952 and 16.5 points per game in 1953. Parfitt was tabbed the team’s most valuable player following his senior season in 1953.
He led the nation in free throw shooting percentage in 1953, converting 93-of-105 free throws for 88.5 percent. He still holds CMU’s single-season free throw percentage record.
Parfitt was inducted into CMU’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990. At the time, he was just the 10th coach to be inducted.
“When I started at Central, there were no buildings past Preston Road,” Parfitt said. “We started out playing in Central Hall, which most people don’t even remember, and moved to Finch Fieldhouse my final two years as a player. There was tremendous growth at CMU back then, just as there has been the last few years. The place is booming now.”
The legendary coach has remained in Mount Pleasant, giving him a chance to stay connected with the university he called home for so many years.
“I love that my wife and I stayed here in Mount Pleasant,” Parfitt said. “We go down to Florida sometimes during the winter, but we stayed in Mount Pleasant because we love the town and the university. We spent our first married year here when I was a senior at CMU, we jumped at the chance to come back in 1962 and stayed here ever since. It’s a great town, and CMU is what makes it a great town.”
Several former players, including Leonard Drake, David Outwin, Dave Grauzer, Vern Anderson, James McElroy and Dave Ginsberg, joined current head coach Ernie Zeigler on the stage during Saturday’s ceremony that announced Parfitt as the honorary grand marshal for the event as well as the intentions of his former players to raise the money necessary to attach his name to the practice facility.
Once everyone was on stage, Gus Macker tournament director, founder, and 1979 CMU Alum Scott McNeal had one more announcement: He and his foundation also contributed $10,000 in Parfitt’s name toward CMU’s Events Center project, a building that Parfitt feels is critical to Central’s success moving forward.
“We really need the Events Center,” Parfitt said. “When its finished, it will not only help the campus, but it will give (head men’s basketball coach) Ernie (Zeigler) and (head women’s basketball coach) Sue (Guevara) something to recruit with. I love Rose Arena. We opened it with my early teams, and it’s a great building when it’s full, but it’s tough to recruit to. The overall benefit it will serve for the campus is immeasurable.”
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