MEN'S BASKETBALL
 |
|
 |
Robert Bessoir, Head Coach
29th SEASON
CAREER RECORD: 539-252 (.676)
Bob Bessoir, the dean of coaches in the Freedom Conference of the Middle
Atlantic States Collegiate Athletic Corporation, has been involved in some
way, shape or form with The University of Scranton men's basketball program
for six decades. He was a player for the Royals in the 1950s, an assistant
coach in the 60s and has been head coach since 1972.
Since taking over as head coach of his alma mater, Bessoir has transformed The University of Scranton to national prominence in the world of small college basketball. His teams have won two NCAA Division III national championships (1976, 1983), finished second in 1988 and third in 1977. The Royals have made an NCAA-record 18 appearances in the national championship tournament in the past 25 seasons. Bessoir is also the most successful coach in MAC conference history, capturing 14 MAC titles.
He was selected NCAA III National Coach of the Year by both the NABC in 1983 and Basketball Times Magazine in 1985. He received NABC Regional Coach of the Year honors four times, as well as being recognized by Eastern Basketball Magazine and the MAC with coach of the year awards.
His educational background includes a master's degree in education at East Stroudsburg University and three years of doctoral work at Temple University. His academic rank at Scranton is professor of physical education.
The University of Scranton All-Time Men's Basketball Coaching Records
| Name | Year(s) | Record | Pct. |
| Bill Moore | 1916-1926 | 114-37 | .755 |
| Jack Harding | 1926-1937 | 119-56 | .680 |
| James Freeman | 1937-1938; 1947-1949 | 28-45 | .384 |
| Ed Coleman | 1938-1941 | 36-26 | .581 |
| Robert Jones | 1941-1943 | 15-28 | .349 |
| Pete Carlesimo | 1944-1946;
1951-1955 |
60-78 | .435 |
| Les Dickman | 1946-1947 | 10-18 | .357 |
| Doug Holcomb | 1949-1951 | 21-36 | .368 |
| Ray Welch | 1955-1956 | 10-12 | .455 |
| Fiore Cesare | 1956-1963 | 75-92 | .449 |
| J. Koniszewski | 1963-1964 | 12-14 | .462 |
| Nat Volpe | 1964-1972 | 98-80 | .551 |
| Dave Occur | 1971-1972 | 10-2 | .833 |
| Bob Bessoir | 1972-present | 539-252 | .681 |
| TOTALS | 1916-present | 1147-776 | .596 |
2000-2001 Season Outlook
Bob Bessoir's 28-year tenure as head coach of The University of Scranton men's basketball program has produced a number of memorable moments, such as NCAA Division III titles in 1976 and 1983 and Final Four appearances in 1977 and 1988.
And while last year's 18-11 team isn't likely to draw comparisons to those squads, the Royals more than made a name for themselves with a late season surge that produced a Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom League regular-season title and an appearance in the NCAA tournament, the program's 19th post-season bid and first since the 1997-98 season. Scranton defeated Mount St. Mary's, 78-68, before closing the year with a heartbreaking 60-58 loss in overtime at William Paterson.
As the 2000-2001 season approaches, Bessoir finds himself with the inevitable task of replacing two 1000-point scorers in guard Mike Reno and forward Henry Condron, a first-team all-MAC Freedom League selection.
The return of senior guard Al Callejas should ease Bessoir's concerns. A two-year starter who is closing in on the 1000-point career plateau, Callejas once again showed his deadly accuracy by finishing second in the nation in free throw shooting and 3-point field goal percentage en route to averaging 14.6 points per game. The previous year, Callejas led the nation in 3-point field goal percentage when he hit 54.1 percent of his attempts. His back court mate this year will be sophomore Dan Loftus, who started the final 13 games of the season and finished with 94 assists, second on the team behind Callejas' total of 96. Loftus' ability to handle the point-guard position and his court savvy were a major reason the Royals went 9-4 with him in the starting lineup. Fellow sophomore Bryant Smith, who appeared in 23 games, and senior Pat Donohue are expected to be part-time starters and key reserves in the back court.
Another talented sophomore, Derek Elphick, will hold down the center spot after starting all 29 games and contributing 10.4 points and a team-leading 7.1 rebounds a game. Elphick also displayed a soft shooting touch, knocking down nearly 50 percent of his field goal attempts and 71.4 percent of his free throws, in addition to being a passing threat when he moved to the high post.
Joining Elphick up front will be senior Kevin Courtney, who showed flashes of brilliance at times throughout the 1999-2000 season. He finished second on the team in rebounding with a 6.2 average and was another major reason the Royals out rebounded 18 opponents last year. Senior Tom Hughes will play a key role as a reserve at power forward this year.
Junior Pat Traver appears to have the inside track for Condron's spot at small forward. His playing time increased throughout the year and he closed out the season with an impressive 10-point, five-rebound effort against William Paterson in the NCAA tournament.
The Royals will face plenty of stiff competition in the Freedom Conference
of the Middle Atlantic States Collegiate Athletic Corporation this year.
Expected to make a run at the title and the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament
are backyard neighbors Wilkes University and King's College, along with
DeSales University, formerly known as Allentown College.
2000-2001 Men’s Basketball Roster
(as of July 7; tentative and subject to change)| No. | Name | Pos | Ht | Wt | Yr. | Hometown/High School |
| 12 | Dan Loftus | G | 6-2 | 175 | So. | Doylestown, PA/Central Bucks West |
| 13 | Al Callejas | G | 5-11 | 165 | Sr. | Archbald, PA/Bishop O’Hara |
| 20 | Bryant Smith | G | 6-2 | 180 | So. | Philadelphia, PA/Holy Ghost Prep |
| 22 | Jeff Kane | G | 6-2 | 225 | So. | Norristown, PA/Kennedy Kendrick |
| 24 | Pat Donohue | G | 5-11 | 170 | Sr. | Scranton, PA/Scranton Prep |
| 25 | Tom Hughes | F | 6-4 | 205 | Sr. | Farmingdale, NY/Farmingdale |
| 33 | Kevin Courtney | F | 6-6 | 190 | Sr. | Yorktown, NY/John F. Kennedy |
| 34 | Pat Traver | F | 6-4 | 185 | Jr. | Newfoundland, PA/Wallenpaupack |
| 52 | Ian Walsh | F | 6-4 | 215 | Jr. | Fairfield, CT/Fairfield Prep |
| 55 | Derek Elphick | C | 6-7 | 230 | So. | Dingmans Ferry,PA/Delaware Valley |
| -- | Owen Baillie | F | 6-5 | 207 | So. | Miami,FL/GulliverPrep |
| -- | Michael Burns | F | 6-2 | 160 | So. | New City, NY/Albertus Magnus |
| -- | Matt Cunningham | F | 6-4 | 230 | So. | Nutley, NJ/St. Peter's Prep |
| -- | Matt Keefe | F | 6-3 | 185 | Jr. | Avon, CT/Avon |
| -- | Jason Krause | G | 6-0 | 175 | So. | Freeland,PA/Hazelton Area |
| -- | Bob Leichte | G | 5-10 | 175 | Jr. | Manahawkin, NJ/Monsignor Donovan |
| -- | James Rudolph | C | 6-8 | 205 | So. | Stewart Manor, NY/Chaminade |
| -- | Robert Schalk | G | 6-1 | 172 | Jr. | Manilus, NY/Christian Brothers Academy |
| -- | Bobby Wallace | G | 6-0 | 160 | Jr. | Roselle Park, NJ/St. Peter's Prep |
| Head Coach | Bob Bessoir (The University of Scranton '55, 29th year, 539-252, .681) |
| Assistants: | J.P. Andrejko (The University of Scranton '88), Mark Halligan (The University of Scranton '95) |