Walt McPherson

Walt McPherson
Sport(s) Basketball
Biographical details
Born December 5, 1916
San Jose, California
Died January 12, 2013 (aged 96)
Santa Rosa, California
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Basketball
1940–1942
1945–1960

San Jose State
San Jose State
Head coaching record
Overall 264–208 (.559)[1]

Walter James McPherson (December 5, 1916 – January 12, 2013) was an American basketball coach and was regarded as one of the best at San Jose State University, and former West Coast Athletic Conference commissioner. McPherson graduated from San Jose State in 1939 and played as a fullback through 1936 and 1938 trained by Dudley DeGroot. He became a basketball coach and assistant football coach, he also managed to get his basketball team in the NCAA Tournament which was the team's first time in the tournament. He also taught Carroll Williams and Billy Wilson who also started their own sport careers. McPherson retired from coaching in 1960.[2]

Personal life

He was involved in World War II and became a lieutenant. He became a member of San Jose Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. McPherson died in 2013 in Santa Rosa, California.[3][4][5]

Head coaching record

Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
San Jose State Spartans (California Collegiate Athletic Association) (1940–1942)
1940–41 San Jose State 19-8
1941–42 San Jose State 13-20
San Jose State Spartans (California Collegiate Athletic Association) (1945–1950)
1945–46 San Jose State 17-14
1946–47 San Jose State 18-9
1947–48 San Jose State 23-9
1948–49 San Jose State 22-13
1949–50 San Jose State 21-7
San Jose State Spartans (Independent) (1950–1952)
1950–51 San Jose State 18-12 NCAA First Round
1951–52 San Jose State 15-10
San Jose State Spartans (West Coast Conference) (1952–1960)
1952–53 San Jose State 15-8 4-4 T-3rd
1953–54 San Jose State 12-15 6-6 3rd
1954–55 San Jose State 16-9 7-5 2nd
1955–56 San Jose State 15-10 8-6 T-4th
1956–57 San Jose State 13-12 7-7 T-4th
1957–58 San Jose State 13-13 5-7 T-4th
1958–59 San Jose State 5-19 1-11 7th
1959–60 San Jose State 6-19 2-10 T-6th
San Jose State: 261–207 (.558) 40–56 (.417)
Total: 261–207 (.558)

      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


References

  1. "SPARTANS MOURN LEGEND". Spartan's Website. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  2. "San Jose State Legend Walt McPherson (1916-2013)". SJSU. Retrieved 17 January 2013.