John Chaney made 17 NCAA tournaments and had 23 winnings seasons in 24 years at Temple's basketball coach. (Photo: Temple University)
By AARON BRACY
January 5, 2024
Big5Hoops.com
Donald Hunt is an ideas guy.
Hunt, a longtime Philadelphia sportswriter, thought big in 2008 when he wrote in his column at The Philadelphia Tribune that Wilt Chamberlain deserved to be on a US postal stamp.
Six years later, Chamberlain became the first NBA player to have a stamp made in his honor.
“People should remember the great ones,” Hunt told the Associated Press then. “They don’t come any bigger or better than Wilt Chamberlain.”
Hunt is thinking big again.
At the tail end of our wonderful conversation in Spaces on Monday night about legendary Temple coach John Chaney, Hunt said he thinks it would be great for Chaney to be remembered with a mural in Philadelphia.
That night, we submitted an application for a John Chaney mural to the Philadelphia Mural Arts program.
A Chaney mural near Temple’s North Philadelphia campus?
Sounds beautiful to us.
“Everybody, no matter where you go, whether it’s in Philadelphia or around the country, knows Coach Chaney,” Hunt said. “And he’s well-loved and respected, which is great and deserved.”
Permanently placing Chaney high above North Broad Street in art would be fitting.
“He was a special person,” Hunt said.
Chaney died at 89 years old nearly two years ago, on Jan. 29, 2021, after a groundbreaking – and, sometimes, controversial – career as a basketball coach. He came to Temple in 1982 after compiling a 225-59 record at Cheyney University, winning the 1978 NCAA Division II title.
His impact on Temple was enormous. Chaney finished 14-15 in his first season at the helm and then had winning campaigns in each of his next 23 seasons. Chaney’s teams made 17 NCAA tournaments, including five regional finals. He was twice named NCAA Division I Coach of the Year, in 1987 and ’88, and finished with a 516-253 career record.
“He won a lot of basketball games,” Hunt said.
Chaney, one of the few African American coaches on the sidelines for much of his career, spoke out on social issues and fought for opportunities for students who might not otherwise get the chance to attend college. His recruits, with some exceptions, weren’t blue-chippers but mostly just city kids like him whom he helped mold into great players and great citizens.
“He got the most out of his players, taught them a lot of life lessons, made sure they got their education, stayed in touch with them and they were successful on and off the court,” Hunt said. “He wants people not only to achieve, but when you achieve go back and help others get to the same level. As you do that, and as you climb, you bring people with you. And as you do that, you make life better. He was great. Kind of one of a kind.”
In 2006, Hunt, with help from Owls greats Aaron McKie and Eddie Jones, published a book about Temple’s coach called, Chaney: Playing for a Legend. Hunt also personally felt the coach’s warmth and encouragement.
“He takes a strong interest in people, and he wants to see people have an opportunity to do well,” Hunt said. “He took a great interest in me.”
After Hunt was inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame in 2017, he got a call from Chaney.
“He talked about how I’ve grown as a sportswriter and as a person,” Hunt said. “I really miss him, dearly.”
Chaney’s impact on Hunt, his players, Temple, NCAA basketball and society all are undeniable.
Worth honoring.
Worth celebrating.
Worth a mural, for sure.
That said, and deservedly and genuinely so, any story about Chaney can’t leave out his warts.
In 1994, he threatened to kill UMass coach John Calipari in a postgame tirade that resulted in a suspension. (Interestingly, Calipari spoke to Philadelphia reporters after Kentucky’s win over Penn at the Wells Fargo Center last month and brought up his affection for Chaney without prompting.)
Worst of all was the infamous “Goon Gate” game against Saint Joseph’s on Feb. 22, 2005 when Chaney, disliking how the Hawks were setting screens, brought a little-used player off the Owls bench to physically assault St. Joe’s players. This resulted, sadly, in Hawks big man John Bryant suffering a fractured arm.
And it fractured part of Chaney’s hard-built legacy, too.
This action, in particular, by Chaney is indefensible and deplorable. However, who amongst us is perfect? He apologized and was suspended. Doesn’t make it right, doesn’t get Bryant back precious college games he was forced to miss, but the admission of fault helps.
As does his overall body of work, which, although not spotless, is worthy of a spot painted high above the city.
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Aaron Bracy has been covering Philadelphia sports since 1996. His byline regularly appears on Associated Press stories. Big5Hoops.com is his second website dedicated to Philadelphia college basketball. Follow Bracy on X: @Aaron_Bracy and like his Facebook and Instagram pages.
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Villanova remains atop Big 5 rankings
Big 5 Hoops Rankings
(Through games Jan. 4)
1. Villanova (10-4, 3-0 Big East)
2. Saint Joseph’s (10-4, 0-1 Atlantic 10)
3. Drexel (9-6, 2-0 CAA)
4. Temple (7-7, 0-1 American)
5. La Salle (9-5, 0-1 Atlantic 10)
6. Penn (8-7) *
* — Penn ranking takes into consideration absence of leading scorer Clark Slajchert for “foreseeable future,” according to school.
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Penn’s Slajchert, Temple’s Miller top Big 5 in scoring
Big 5 Hoops Scoring Leaders
(Through games Jan. 4)
T1. Clark Slajchert, Penn, 17.4
T1. Hysier Miller, Temple, 17.4
3. Erik Reynolds II, St. Joe’s, 16.9
4. Khalil White, La Salle, 16.1
5. Eric Dixon, Villanova, 14.8
6. Jhamir Brickus, La Salle, 14.6
7. Tyler Perkins, Penn, 14.5
8. Justin Moore, Villanova, 13.3
9. Justin Moore, Drexel, 12.5
10. Jahlil White, Temple, 12.4
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Drexel’s Williams, Villanova’s Burton lead Big 5 in rebounding
Big 5 Hoops Rebounding Leaders
(Through games Jan. 4)
T1. Amari Williams, Drexel, 7.8
T1. Tyler Burton, Villanova, 7.8
3. Rasheer Fleming, St. Joe’s, 7.5
4. Nick Spinoso, Penn, 7.2
5. Jahlil White, Temple, 7.1
6. Sam Hofman, Temple, 6.9
7. Eric Dixon, Villanova, 6.7
8. Daeshon Shepherd, La Salle, 6.1
9. Lamar Oden, Jr., 6.0
10. Rokas Jocius, La Salle, 5.4
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Last week’s results
Friday, Dec. 29
Saint Joseph’s 97, Loyola (Md.) 56
Saturday, Dec. 30
Howard 71, La Salle 66
Houston 81, Penn 42
Monday, Jan. 1
Drexel 99, Hampton 65
Tuesday, Jan. 2
Auburn 88, Penn 68
Wednesday, Jan. 3
George Mason 77, La Salle 62
Rhode Island 78, Saint Joseph’s 74
Villanova 66, Xavier 65
Thursday, Jan. 4
Drexel 78, UNC-Wilmington 63
South Florida 76, Temple 68
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This week’s schedule
Saturday, Jan. 6
12 pm, La Salle at Fordham
1 pm, St. John’s at Villanova
2 pm, Drexel at William & Mary
2 pm, Dartmouth at Penn
Sunday, Jan. 7
1 pm, Wichita State at Temple
Wednesday, Jan. 10
7 pm, Saint Joseph’s at Saint Louis
7 pm, La Salle at UMass
7 pm, East Carolina at Temple
Thursday, Jan. 11
7 pm, Drexel at North Carolina A&T