Fran Dunphy Biography

Fran Dunphy, head coach of men's basketball at the University of Pennsylvania, has 270 career victories to his credit, averaging 18 wins per season and making him the all-time leader in wins at Penn and the second-most at an Ivy League school behind all-time Princeton legend Pete Carril.

Starting his 16th season at the Quakers' helm the 2004-05 season holds promise of more of the same, namely fielding a highly competitive winning team.

Dunphy's first two seasons at Penn, going 21-31 (.404) were no indication of where Dunphy and the Quakers basketball program were headed. The teams 16-10 (.615) mark for the 1991-92 season served notice the Penn basketball program was ready to explore new heights.

The Quakers went 22-5 (.815) the following season with UPenn going to the postseason NCAA Tournament for the first time in recent memory. The team went one better in the 1993-94 season when they recorded a stellar 25-3 (.893) record again going to the postseason NCAA "Big Dance" and advancing to the second round having secured their first postseason NCAA Tournament win since 1980. That same season UPenn was honored by achieving a number 25 national ranking by the USA Today/CNN Coaches' poll and the teams first AP Top 25 ranking since 1979.

The Quakers achieved a third consecutive undefeated Ivy League season with the 1994-95 team and a third consecutive trip to the postseason NCAA Tournament, both feats unprecedented in the annals of Penn basketball.

Dunphys 1999 and 2000 teams averaged a 21-7 (.750) record for these two seasons and two more postseason NCAA Tournament appearances . The Quakers closed out the decade of the 90's with a 182-91 (.666) record and five trips to the postseason NCAA "Big Dance."

Beginning the 2000-01 season with a 21-game Ivy League winning streak the Quakers extended the streak to 25 straight conference wins, the longest in the country before finally losing. The Dunphy coached Quakers are the only team in Ivy League play to have three consecutive undefeated seasons in league play.

The Quakers again went to the postseason NCAA Tournament in 2002 and 2003 continuing to add to the lustre of an excellent basketball program led by Coach Dunphy.

Dunphy played his college basketball for La Salle under former NBA player and coach Tom Gola. In Dunphy's junior season he helped lead the team to a 23-1 (.960) winning record. As co-captain and a senior he averaged 18.6 points per game and led the team in assists. He was named the MVP of the highly competitive and prestigious Quaker City Basketball Tournament.

Dunphy, whose role as a teacher on the court is without question is a teacher with few peers off the court. The world-renowned Wharton School of Business, on the UPenn canpus uses Dunphy as a lecturer in their Executive Education program and in the management department of the nations' top ranked business school.

Coach Dunphy's feelings for the University of Pennsylvania run deep as witnessed by the following statement: "The University of Pennsylvania has an unique atmosphere. From the diversity of the students, to the beautiful urban campus, to the wide variety of intellectual pursuits, Penn is one of the best places to grow not only as a student-athlete, but also as a person."

Coach Dunphy basketball coach, Fran Dunphy educator and Coach Fran a humanitarian, a man willing to give to his fellow man whatever he can to help make life better for all is involved in many community activities to do just that ... give back. An example is the following from The American Cancer Society website:

"The American Cancer Society congratulates Coach Fran Dunphy on his appointment to the position of 2003 National Chair of the Coaches vs. Cancer Council."

"Coach Dunphy has defined University of Pennsylvania in his 14 seasons with the team, and has made it an important stop on the national basketball map on a yearly basis... Coach Dunphy is undeniably the heart and soul of the Coaches vs. Cancer program in Philadelpiha. His dedication to this cause is unsurpassed."

Dunphy is one of the leaders in the local Coaches vs. Cancer campaign and was named to the National Council of Coaches vs. Cancer. He was also honored as the 2002 National Coaches vs. Cancer Coach of the Year for his service and tireless dedication to those in need.

Dunphy is also a member of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Greater Philadelphia Board of Directors and his team participates in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program each year. He is a member of the Philadelphia CYO Hall of Fame and is currently serving on the corporate committee of the National Adoption Center's Gala in April, where he will also be an honoree.

Dunphy graduated from La Salle in 1970 with a B.S. Marketing degree and earned a Master's degree in counseling and human relations from Villanova. While coaching basketball under then head coach Gary Williams at American University Dunphy completed the required course work for his doctorate in counseling and student development.

Dunphy and his wife, Ree, reside in Villanova, Pa., with their son, J.P.

Some of his accomplishments are:

Head coach of men's basketball at the University of Pennsylvania
Has 270 career victories to his credit
Averaging 18 wins per season over 15 seasons
All-time leader in wins at Penn
Second-most wins all-time at an Ivy League school
Quakers went 22-5 (.815) - 1992-93' season
UPenn went to the postseason NCAA Tournament first time in recent memory - 1993
Quakers went 25-3 (.893) - 1993-94' season
UPenn went to the postseason NCAA Tournament second consecutive season - 1994
First postseason NCAA tournament win since 1980 - 1994 season
Achieved a number 25 national ranking by USA Today/CNN Coaches Poll - 1994 season
Earned Quakers first AP Top 25 ranking since 1979 - 1994 season
Won eight Ivy titles in his 15 seasons at Penn
Won four consecutive conference titles
Five trips to the postseason NCAA "Big Dance" in the deacade of the 90's
Seven trips overall in his career at Penn to the postseason NCAA Tournament
Five undefeated Ivy League (in conference) seasons
Played his college basketball for La Salle
Helped lead the team to a 23-1 (.960) winning record - junior season
As co-captain and a senior he averaged 18.6 points per game and led the team in assists
Named MVP of the highly competitive and prestigious Quaker City Basketball Tournament
Lecturer for Wharton School of Business - Executive Education Program
Lecturer for Wharton School of Business - Management Department
2003 National Chair of the Coaches vs. Cancer Council
Honored as the 2002 National Coaches vs. Cancer Coach of the Year
Member of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Greater Philadelphia Board of Directors
Member of the Philadelphia CYO Hall of Fame
B.S. Marketing degree from La Salle
Master's degree in counseling and human relations from Villanova
Completed required course work for doctorate in counseling and student development at American University