Courtesy of PurpleEagles.com
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – When the Niagara University men’s and women’s basketball teams take the floor for the 2014-15 season, they will be playing their home contests on the newly named Frank and Barbara Layden Court. The official unveiling of the court will take place on Saturday, Dec. 6, before Niagara hosts Canisius College in a 3 p.m. contest.
“Frank and Barbara have been very committed to Niagara University over the years,” said Fr. James J. Maher, C.M., president of Niagara University. “Although Frank left the university in 1976, Frank and Barbara have never left the Niagara family. They have remained committed to the athletics department, the theatre and the entire university. We are pleased to honor them for their dedication to Niagara. Their name will stand forever as a testament to them, and their outstanding legacy at Niagara University.”
Frank Layden, who played for Niagara from 1951-55 under John “Taps” Gallagher, is a pro and collegiate basketball coaching legend. After playing for the Purple Eagles, he returned to his alma mater as the team’s head coach for eight seasons. Under his leadership, Niagara made its first ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 1970.
After leaving Niagara, Layden worked under former college teammate Hubie Brown for three seasons as an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA. The New Orleans Jazz hired him as general manager in 1979 and, after the team moved to Utah, he added responsibilities as head coach for the 1981-82 season. From 1981-89, Layden’s team made the playoffs in five straight seasons (1983-88) and he was named 1984 NBA Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year.
After he finished his coaching career in 1989, Layden remained as general manager through 1998, and guided the Jazz to the top of the NBA. The team averaged 55 wins per season over his last 10 years with the organization and the team twice advanced to the NBA finals.
In addition to the court naming ceremony, the weekend of events will also include a panel discussion on the history of Niagara University basketball, which will feature Layden, along with Calvin Murphy and Hubie Brown. An entire list of weekend events will be announced at a later date.
Tickets for the Dec. 6 Battle of the Bridge contest against Canisius will be on sale Oct. 1, along with all single games of the 2014-15 home slate.
Leave a Reply