BGSU has named Louis Orr, former coach at Seton Hall University, head coach of the men’s basketball team. Orr will become the 15th coach in the history of the program, taking over the team after Dan Dakich resigned last month following 10 years as coach.
Most recently, Orr coached five years at Seton Hall where he compiled a record of 80-69 and collected a Big East Conference Coach of the Year award in 2003. Orr led the team to a pair of NCAA Tournament berths, including a first round victory over No. 18 Arizona in the first round of the 2004 tournament.
Orr is enthusiastic to begin his tenure at BGSU, which will mark the 17th year of coaching experience for the Cincinnati native and Withrow High School alum.
“My family and I are very excited about this new chapter in our life,” Orr said in a written statement released by the BGSU Athletic Department yesterday. “We have a unique opportunity to do what we love and at the same time share this with those who are closest to us. It is the perfect situation.”
The 48-year-old Orr played for four seasons at Syracuse in the late 70s and was the first recruit of then first-year coach Jim Boeheim. In his final three years, the 6-foot-8 forward started all games but one, shot over 50 percent from the field and was given All-American honors his senior season. In each of his four seasons at SU, the team made the NCAA Tournament and compiled a record of 100-18.
“Louis is a person of absolute integrity and high character and he has the background we were seeking,” said Athletic Director Greg Christopher. “Through our conversations over the last two weeks, Louis stood out as the right person to lead our student-athletes. He has played and coached successfully at the highest levels and we now look to him to share those experiences with the young men who compete for BGSU.”
Orr went on to be the 28th selection in the 1980 NBA Draft, playing for eight seasons with the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks.
After his 2005-06 season, Orr was fired from Seton Hall by Athletic Director Joe Quinlan, who cited recruiting and management of the basketball program as two areas of disagreement. Orr had drawn criticism for not having a better recruiting record in the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area.
Orr is excited his second chance is taking place in a school that has historically shown a great deal of loyalty to coaches.
“When you see that there have been just three coaches in 30 years, it shows that this must be a special place,” Orr said. “There is an outstanding group of young men here who are eager to continue their journey as student-athletes and I am anxious to begin working with them as we move toward a common goal of winning a MAC Championship.”
