Philadelphia University's Magee becomes NCAA's winningest coach

HERB MAGEE might be the most relaxed basketball coach in America. It is as if he knows something nobody else knows.

An hour before the game where he was going after NCAA win No. 903, one more than Bob Knight, Magee was sitting in his office, down a hallway, hard by Herb Magee Court. He explained that Goldey Beacom's coach, Chuck Hammond, was a former Philadelphia University manager who then became an assistant coach at his alma mater.

When the Goldey Beacom job opened up a while back, Magee went to bat for Hammond, who has done so well in Wilmington that his team beat Magee's team by 13 in December.

That was December. This was history.

"I told [Hammond] to leave your three best guys at home," Magee said. "I got you the job. I can get you fired."

All of Hammond's players were at Philly U. last night. But they were bit players. This stage was all set for the King.

It took Marcus Lemon all of 8 seconds to bury a three from the right wing. With that, the Rams were off, 14-0. They looked back a few times, but were in control all the way. They won it, 76-65.

And Magee had 903.

"I said to my dad. 'We're winning by 12,' " Magee's daughter, Kay, said before the game, citing some numerology that only she understood. Off by just a point, she knew, too.

When Magee won 800, his team still played in the old gym. Now, they were in the new place, all splashy and jammed with all manner of people wearing all manner of Magee paraphernalia - the 800 T-shirts, the 900 T-shirts.

"It's great to have the new gym," Magee said after all the on-court celebrations. "When the game started, you could see the enthusiasm . . . Every student in the school was here, along with the faculty, administration. It was just amazing."

Win 903 was not necessarily about Magee, or even for him. He is just doing what he loves to do, and the numbers add up. It was, in so many ways, for all those who have played for Magee and coached with him.

Terrific players Randy Stover, Christian Burns and Tayron Thomas were all part of this. So were former assistants Steve Donahue and Patrick Chambers. And current assistants Jimmy Reilly, Dick DeLaney, Shawn Werdt, Dave Caporaletti and Andy Jones.

The significance of 903?

"Nothing right now," Magee said. "The players will tell you we don't talk about it . . . That was for first place in the conference. We now get the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament coming up Monday. That was our 14th straight victory."

Still, 903?

"It's really hard to win games," Magee said. "Any coach will tell you that."

Magee met Knight one time 30 years ago at a coaches' clinic in Washington. Magee pointed out that Knight won his games in the Big Ten and Big 12. Dean Smith won his in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

It is, Magee agreed, all relative. Winning, however, is winning. And 1,000 is only 4 or 5 years away.

The Philadelphia basketball community was well represented. Villanova coach Jay Wright stopped by before the game to talk with Magee. Temple coach Fran Dunphy was there for the game. So was Saint Joseph's athletic director Don DiJulia.

"That's the beautiful thing about Philadelphia basketball," Magee said.

Textile had 350 students when Magee arrived a half-century ago. Now, Philly U has 2,200 students.

"The way I look at this is you just saw the entire population of this university at that game," Magee said. "The kids will be walking around campus all week long with their Magee shirts on. I see them all in the fitness center wearing their Magee shirts. That makes me proud. When anybody ever asks me the value of our program, I always say, 'It's for the student body.' "

The 903 shirts were just behind the bleachers, waiting for their time.

"Property of Coach Magee," they read.

Before the game, Magee was proud to show off the new TV given to him a few months ago to commemorate his 50 years at the school.

"I was looking to drive off in some kind of vehicle," Magee said.

Maybe, later, if he ever leaves. And he has no plans to leave - ever.

He wanted to talk about a recruit who had just committed.

"His father said he wants to play for the legend," Magee said with a laugh.

Magee also wanted to talk about the Final Four in Indianapolis, where he promised to spend most waking hours in the OTB across from the coaches' hotel.

When brought back to the game, he said Russell Frederick needed to have a big game. He had 15 by halftime and 24 for the game. The King just knows things.

This is Magee's fourth different league. His team needs to win next week's Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament to get into the NCAA Division II Tournament, the one his team won in 1970.

The Rams began the second half with a 40-foot pass to a layup. All of 3 seconds had elapsed. The King just knew. He always has known.

As the final few minutes evaporated, the crowd chanted "903, 903, 903." A few seconds before it was done, Magee gave a little fist pump. Then, he walked over and hugged Hammond. A few moments later, after the balloons and confetti rained down on the court, the 903 banner dropped from the ceiling. And the countdown to 1,000 began. *