Central Michigan University Athletics
Auxiliary Gymnasium Named to Honor Pillar of Mount Pleasant
11/30/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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, and now it will be synonymous with what helped him achieve all that success - practice.
In the new CMU Events Center, the Dick Parfitt Gymnasium, named after the coach who led the Chippewa men's basketball program to three Mid-American Conference titles in the 1970s, will be utilized primarily for team practices, but will also function as a space to hold gatherings, receptions and other multipurpose events.
A group of Parfitt's former CMU players came 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 when the announcement was made in September 2009. "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."
