Karl Tilleman

Karl Tilleman

No. 30, 32, 7
Shooting Guard
Personal information
Born	(1960-11-01) November 1, 1960 Odgen, Utah
Nationality	Canadian
Listed height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Listed weight	183 lb (83 kg)
Career information
High school	Sir Winston Churchill (Calgary, Alberta, Canada)
College	University of Calgary (1980-1984)
NBA draft	1984 / Round: 4 / Pick: 79th overall
Selected by the Denver Nuggets
Career highlights and awards
Three-Time Conference Scoring Champion (1982-1984) CIAU scoring champion in 1982 and 1983 Four-time unanimous Canada West University Athletic Association all-star (1981-1984) Four-time CIAU All-Canadian (1981-1984) Three-time Conference Player of the Year (1981-1983) Two University of Calgary's Male Athlete of the Year (1981,1983) Calgary Sports Media's Calgary Male Athlete of the Year, 1983 Two-Time Mike Moser Memorial Trophy Award (Most Outstanding Male University Basketball Player) (1982-1983 Named the University of Calgary's greatest athlete of all-time by an online poll in conjunction with the university's 40th anniversary

Karl Michael Tilleman (born November 1, 1960), also known as "King Karl",^[1] is a former Canadian basketball player who started 5 seasons as a guard for the University of Calgary Dinos from 1980-1984,^[2] and played for the Canadian National Team from 1981-1984 and 1986-1988 during which he participated in the Summer Olympic Games in 1984 and 1988 and was a member of the gold-winning team of the World Students Games held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in 1983.^[3] His accomplishments were many, some of which include being the university's highest leading all-time scorer when he graduated with an average of 25.9 ppg before the implementation of the three point line;^[4] receiving the Mike Moser Trophy Award as the Most Outstanding Canadian male university athlete two years consequently, the first to accomplish that feat;^[5] being voted a first team Canadian Interuniversity (CIAU) all-Canadian 4 times;^[6] being the CIAU scoring champion in 1982 and 1983;^[7] and being drafted by the Denver Nuggets as their second draft pick and the 79th overall in 1984,^[8] the only Dino to be drafted by a NBA franchise.^[9] Since his athletic career, he was inducted into the University of Calgary's Hall of Fame,^[10] was voted the university's all-time greatest athlete,^[11] and was inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame.^[12]

In addition to his respected athletic career, Tilleman has had influence in his career as an attorney and service in his church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As an attorney, he has clerked for Former Chief Justice Warren Burger and Justice Clarence Thomas,^[13] was the managing partner of Steptoe & Johnson Phoenix firm,^[14] and has represented many high-profile companies and entities, including the Harlem Globetrotters, the University of Southern California, AIG, and Metlife, inc.^[15] In the LDS church, where there is no paid clergy,^[16] Tilleman has served as a bishop and stake president in Phoenix, Arizona, and as mission president of the Canada Vancouver Mission.^[17]

Athletic career

University

First Season (1979-1980)

Before attending the University of Calgary, Tilleman attended Sir Winston Churchill High School where he led his team to the Calgary City Championship and later to the 4A Provincial Championship Finals.^[18] He started his freshman year at the university averaging 14.1 points per page with a 49 field goal percentage, and 1.9 rebounds per game.^[19]

Second Season (1980-1981)

In his second season, Tilleman greatly enhanced his performance which brought increased recognition and honors. He averaged 27.5 points per game, 55.9 FG%, and 4.8 rebounds per game.^[20] With this performance he was named the University of Calgary Male Athlete of the Year, Conference Player of the Year, a unanimous first team Canada West Athletic Association all-star, and a CIAU first team all-Canadian.^[21]

Third Season (1981-1982)

In his third season he almost averaged a double-double with 32.9 ppg and 8.1 rpg with a 47.5 FG% ^[22] With this scoring, Tilleman broke the previously held CIAU points per page scoring record of 31.3 ppg.^[23] Additionally, he maintained his honors as first team Canada West all-star, Conference Player of the Year, CIAU all-Canadian, and interuniversity MVP while additionally establishing himself as the Conference and CIAU scoring champion of the year.^[24]

Fourth Season (1982-1983)

In his fourth season Tilleman averaged 30.9 ppg and 4.1 rpg with a 51.5 FG%,^[25] which lead him again to earn first team Canada West all-star, Conference player of the year, all-Canadian, and University of Calgary male Athlete of the Year awards, while additionally being recognized as the City of Calgary's Male Athlete of the Year by Calgary Sports Media.^[26] His scoring again lead him to be the Conference and CIAU scoring champion of that year.^[27]

Fifth Season (1983-1984)

In the 1983-1984 season again averaged superb numbers with 31.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg, a 48.5 FG%, and an incredible 98 free throw percentage.^[28] With this he again was recognized as a Canada West first team all-star, CIAU all-Canadian, and the Conference scoring champion.^[29] In 1984 after his collegiate eligibility, he was drafted in the fourth round by the Denver Nuggets; however, upon arriving in Denver, he suffered from the flu and a sprained ankle and was consequently cut from the team.^[30]

International career

Tilleman played for the Canadian Men's National Team from 1981-1984 and from 1986-1988.^[31] In 1983, he was a member of the team that won Gold in the World Student Games held in Edmonton, Alberta Canada.^[32] He participated in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, CA, where Canada finished fourth overall.^[33] In that year, he averaged 7.4 ppg, 1.4 rpg, and 1.1 ast.^[34] He also participated in the Summer Olympics in Seoul Korea, where he averaged 11.9 ppg and 1.6 rpg,^[35] which points per game was second highest on the Canadian team that year.^[36] He had exceptional performances against Egypt and Spain where he scored 29 and 37 points respectively.^[37]

Post Career Awards

After his final season game for the Dinos, Tilleman's number 30 jersey was retired by the university.^[38] In 1995, he was inducted into the university's athletic hall of fame.^[39] On April 5, 2007, as a celebration of the university's 40th anniversary, Tilleman was voted on an online poll as the university's all-time greatest athlete, receiving 26 per cent of the votes, more than five times than the runner-up.^[40] In 2008, Tilleman was then inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame.^[41]

Professional career

Tilleman graduated from Brigham Young University's J. Reuben Clark Law School summa cum laude (with highest distinction), Order of the Coif in 1990 while also serving as the Editor-in-Chief of the BYU Law Review.^[42] After graduation, he clerked for Hon. John T. Noonan of the United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit from 1990-1991.^[43] Later, he clerked for Former Chief Justice Warren Burger and Justice Clarenece Thomas of the Supreme Court from 1992-1993.^[44] As an attorney, he has worked for Steptoe & Johnson LLP's Phoenix office where he was eventually appointed as its managing partner.^[45] His practice focuses on litigating antitrust, intellectual property, RICO, insurance coverage and bad faith, construction and environmental disputes.^[46] He has similarly earned awards and recognition as an attorney, which include being selected to Best Lawyers in America for insurance law from 2011-2014, Southwest Super Lawyers for business litigation from 2009-2013, Chambers USA: America's Leading Business Lawyers for general commercial litigation from 2011-2012, and Arizona's Finest Lawyers in 2011.^[47] Additionally, Tilleman was interviewed by the White House for an appointment as a Federal Court Judge, but upon realizing that accepting the position would considerably alter his priorities, he declined the offer.^[48] His clients include many high-profile insurance, healthcare, money transfer and entertainment companies. In an non-exclusive list, he has represented Allstate, Chartis, and Metlife in numerous bad-faith actions, Western Union, the University of Southern California and Urban Partners in a multi-million antitrust and RICO lawsuit, and the Harlem Globetrotters in an intellectual property action brought to Federal Court by former Globetrotter superstars Meadowlark Lemon, Curly Neal, and others.^[49]

Ecclesiastical Service

In between his Olympic performances, Tilleman served a as a full-time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served in California Arcadia Mission.^[50] Additionally, while living in Phoenix, he was called to serve as a bishop,^[51] which presides over a local congregation of the Church,^[52] and as a stake president,^[53] which presides over a number of local congregations.^[54] As of March 26, 2011, he has been assigned to serve as the mission president of the Canada Vancouver Mission,^[55] in the which he has left his practice to fulfill the assignment. The assignment will end in July 2014.

References

External links

• Karl Tilleman at the University of Calgary's Hall of Fame
• Karl Tilleman at the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and Museum
• Karl Tilleman at Steptoe & Johnson LLP