Washington State University welcomed legends Dick Fry, Keith Lincoln and basketball's Jud Heathcote at the annual Cougar Sports Banquet held Thursday, Aug. 18 at the Davenport Hotel in Spokane. The banquet also featured current WSU coaches, including men's basketball head coach Ken Bone. Below is an excerpt from the round table discussion which featured those three along with Athletics Director Bill Moos and Bud Nameck. In the clip Heathcote discusses postseason in his time at WSU and what it means to be a Coug.
A basketball legend, Heathcote arrived to Washington State as a student-athlete in 1949 and, playing under legendary head coach Jack Friel, the Cougars compiled a 21-9 record during Heathcote's senior season. After coaching 14 years at West Valley High School in Spokane, Heathcote made it back to his alma mater in 1964 as an assistant coach under Marv Harshman, He was the freshman coach for five years and served two years as the varsity assistant coach. Heathcote took over head coaching duties at Montana in 1971 and coached the Grizzlies to their first Big Sky Conference title. He coached five years at Montana before heading to East Lansing, Mich., to take over head coaching duties at Michigan State. During his 19 seasons at MSU, Heathcote led the Spartans to three Big-10 titles, nine NCAA Tournament appearances, and, in 1979, he led Michigan State to the NCAA national title.
Leave a comment