Chapman University

The beloved Coach Perkins helped Chapman Athletics achieve new heights during his mid-century tenure. Perkins led the Panthers’ basketball team to 213 victories over 16 seasons from 1947-63, including a school-record six NCAA regional tournament berths in a seven-year span between 1957 and ’63. During that stretch, the Panthers won 20 or more games four times and went 141-50 (.738 winning percentage). He guided Chapman to back-to-back regional titles in 1959 and ’60, as well as the NCAA College Division championship game in ’60 where the Panthers lost to Evansville (Ind.) in the title game. Overall he had a .541 winning percentage and his 213 head coaching wins still rank third in school history.

Perkins also coached the Chapman baseball team for 12 seasons and served as the school’s Athletic Director and a member of the Chapman faculty. He was a Danforth Associate for several years, an honor given only to outstanding college faculty in the U.S. He was active in the American Association of Physical Education, Health and Recreation and the National Association of Basketball Coaches. In 1960, he was chosen as an assistant coach to the U.S. men’s basketball team at the Olympic Trials.

Following his early retirement from coaching in 1963 (due to health reasons), he served as selection chairman of the Pacific Coast Region and on the NCAA College Division Basketball Tournament Committee. He was also a member of the NCAA Executive Committee. He passed away in 1967 from a heart attack at the age of 46.

*Passed away: May 1967