UAlbany to Celebrate Doc Sauers' 60th Year Sunday Against Maine, Host Honorary Dinner in April
AN EVENING WITH DOC INFO
ALBANY, N.Y.- With 60 years gone by since his first season as the men's basketball coach, University at Albany athletics announced that Doc Sauers will be recognized Sunday at SEFCU Arena for his service at the men's basketball game against Maine. The Great Danes will also host an honorary dinner on Saturday, April 23rd beginning at 5:00 p.m., in SEFCU Arena.
“It feels tremendous to have so much support after 60 years,” said Doc. “I've certainly enjoyed my time at UAlbany; and this is also a reflection of all of my players and alumni over the years that deserve to be celebrated.”
Doc Sauers amassed an impressive 702 wins in 41 seasons as the men's basketball head coach from 1955-87, and 1989-97. He coached 1,032 games at the helm of the Great Danes in the Division II and III ranks with 11 NCAA Tournament invites. At the time of his retirement in 1997, he was one of just 11 NCAA coaches with 700 wins or more including Adolph Rupp, Dean Smith and Bobby Knight. Sauers was inducted into the UAlbany Hall of Fame in 2004, and posted just one losing season in 41 years.
Following his retirement from basketball in 1997, Sauers served as the women's golf head coach from 1997-2012. He saw the program transition from Division II to Division I, and was selected the America East Coach of the Year in 2010 to go with the league title that season. He was also the UAlbany baseball coach from 1958-59. He is currently a special assistant to the Director of Athletics.
DOC SAUERS HIGHLIGHTS:
- New York State Basketball Hall of Fame
- UAlbany Hall of Fame
- Capital District Sports Hall of Fame
- Slippery Rock University Hall of Fame
- 1985 NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year
- 40 winning seasons
- 11 NCAA Tournament bids – 10 between 1975 and 1995
- 4 NAIA postseason appearances
- ECAC Champions – 1978, 1989
- 7 ECAC playoff nods
- All-time best single-season record in 1993-94 of 25-3
Director of Athletics Mark Benson on Sauers:”Sixty years at one university is a testament to the type of person Doc Sauers is. His dedication to the success of his student-athletes and his commitment to UAlbany set Doc apart from the rest. We are thrilled to celebrate this milestone with him.”
Men's Basketball head coach Will Brown on Sauers: “Congratulations to Doc for his 60 years at UAlbany. He has enjoyed tremendous success on the court with 700+ wins and has impacted the lives of so many of his student-athletes off the court. You won't find many coaches at any level, regardless of the sport, who have been as successful as Doc.”
Event registration for “an Evening with Doc – Celebrating 60 Memorable Years,” on April 23 is available here, or through the UAlbany Ticket Office at (518) 442-DANE.
