Alexander Severance

Alex Severance
Sport(s) Basketball
Biographical details
Born June 3, 1905
New York City, New York
Died April 1, 1985 (aged 79)
Lexington, Kentucky
Alma mater Villanova
Playing career
1926–1929 Villanova
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1936–1961 Villanova
Head coaching record
Overall 413–201(.673)
Tournaments NCAA: 4-4(.500)
NIT 1-2(.333)
Accomplishments and honors

Championships

1939 NCAA Final Four

Alexander G. Severance Sr. (June 3, 1905 – April 1, 1985) was a college men's basketball player and coach. Born in New York City, New York, Severance graduated from Villanova University in 1929 and received his J.D. from Temple University School of Law in 1932. In addition to coaching basketball for Villanova, Severance was a professor of business law at the university.

Severance coached the Villanova Wildcats for 25 seasons (1936–1961), compiling a 413-201 (.673) record. Among his former players is Hall of Fame member Paul Arizin. Severance coached his team to the first Final Four of the NCAA Tournament in 1939. His teams also played in the NCAA Tournament in 1949 and 1955. Under his leadership, Villanova was selected for the NIT in 1959 and 1960.

Severance died on the morning of April 1, 1985 in Lexington, Kentucky on the day Villanova won the 1985 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. The championship game was played at Rupp Arena in Lexington.

Head coaching record

Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Villanova (NCAA Independent) (1936–1961)
1936–1937 Villanova 15-8
1937–1938 Villanova 25-5
1938-1939 Villanova 20-5 NCAA Final Four
1939–1940 Villanova 17-2
1940–1941 Villanova 13-3
1941–1942 Villanova 13-9
1942–1943 Villanova 19-2
1943–1944 Villanova 9-11
1944–1945 Villanova 6-11
1945–1946 Villanova 10-13
1946–1947 Villanova 17-7
1947–1948 Villanova 15-9
1948–1949 Villanova 23-4 NCAA Elite Eight
1949–1950 Villanova 25-4
1950–1951 Villanova 25-7 NCAA First Round
1951–1952 Villanova 19-8
1952–1953 Villanova 19-8
1953–1954 Villanova 20-11
1954–1955 Villanova 18-10 NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1955–1956 Villanova 14-12
1956–1957 Villanova 10-15
1957–1958 Villanova 12-11
1958–1959 Villanova 18-7 NIT First Round
1959–1960 Villanova 20-6 NIT Quarterfinals
1960–1961 Villanova 11-13
Villanova: 413–201 (.673)
Total: 413–201(.673)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion