Lester Rowe

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Lester Rowe
Personal information
Born (1963-01-11) January 11, 1963 (age 61)
Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High schoolLafayette (Buffalo, New York)
CollegeWest Virginia (1981–1985)
NBA draft1985: undrafted
Playing career1985–1993
PositionSmall forward
Number24
Coaching career1997–present
Career history
As player:
1985Shell Azodrin Bugbusters
1987Long Island Knights
1987–1988Savannah Spirits
1988Youngstown Pride
1988Vancouver Nighthawks
As coach:
1997–2002West Virginia (men's assistant)
2011–2019West Virginia (women's assistant)
2019–2020Northern Kentucky (women's assistant)
2020–2023Xavier (women's assistant)
Career highlights and awards

Lester Rowe (born January 11, 1963[1][2]) is an American basketball coach and former professional basketball player who last served on the staff of Xavier Musketeers women's basketball. He has played professionally in several leagues. Since retiring as a player, he has worked in business and coached both men's and women's college basketball. As an assistant coach, his teams have earned the 2017 Big 12 women's tournament and 2013–14 Big 12 women's regular-season championships. He has been an assistant coach for both West Virginia men's and West Virginia women's basketball as well as Northern Kentucky women's.

He played four seasons at West Virginia, where he led the team in scoring twice and rebounds three times. His teams either won the Atlantic 10 men's basketball tournament (1983 and 1984) or the Atlantic 10 Conference (known as Eastern Athletic Association until 1982) regular season (1982 and 1985) championship every year that he played. He served as co-captain for two seasons and totaled 1,524 points and 787 rebounds. Rowe once held several West Virginia career records, including career field goal percentage. His school iron man record (114 consecutive starts) stood for over 20 years.

Prior to his time at West Virginia, he played basketball for Lafayette High School, where he was named 1981 Western New York co-player of the year by The Buffalo News. He is the uncle of former professional basketball player Jason Rowe.

High school[edit]

Growing up, Rowe played pickup games at the YMCA, the Boys Club and other venues.[2] As a senior at Lafayette, Rowe averaged 28.2 points and 13.0 rebounds. He chose West Virginia over offers from Duke, North Carolina and others.[3] Rowe was named the 1981 Western New York boys' basketball co-player of the year (with Ray Hall) by The Buffalo News.[4] Rowe also competed in the high jump in high school.[2]

College[edit]

As a freshman, Rowe led the 1981–82 West Virginia Mountaineers, which was the Eastern Athletic Association[a] regular season-champion in rebounding (5.5 rpg).[6]

When West Virginia won the 1983 Atlantic 10 men's basketball tournament, Rowe was on the all-tournament team.[7] Rowe was selected along with Terence Stansbury, Mike Brown and Barry Mungar, among others, to a 12-man Atlantic 10 Conference all-star team to tour Spain for a 12-day, 8-game tour to play against Spain, Panama and Soviet Union national teams in Santiago de Compostela, Palma de Mallorca and Madrid from May 12 to 22, 1983.[8] Rowe was the leading scorer on the tour with a 19.9 average.[9]

For the 1983 preseason All-Atlantic 10 first team, Rowe was joined by Tony Costner, Bob Lojewski, Stansbury, and Brown.[10] Rowe was selected as co-captain along with Tim Kearney.[6] After the team lost Greg Jones following the 1982–83 season,[11] Rowe was the leading scorer (15.6 ppg) and rebounder (6.9 rpg) for the 1983–84 team.[6] When West Virginia won the 1984 Atlantic 10 men's basketball tournament, Rowe was the tournament MVP.[6] Rowe was named to the 1984 All-Atlantic 10 second team.[12]

Rowe, who was known for his leaping ability, was joined by Brown, Maurice Martin, John Battle and Granger Hall on the 1984 preseason All-Atlantic 10 first team.[13] Rowe was selected as co-captain along with Dale Blaney.[6] On January 5, 1985, Rowe dunked what seemed to be a timely game-winning basket against the Saint Joseph's Hawks. However, after both teams returned to their locker rooms, warmups had begun for the next game of the doubleheader and the referees returned to their locker room, they decided that the dunk came after the buzzer.[14] By some accounts, seven minutes after the game, West Virginia had already left the Palestra to catch a plane.[15] However, Atlantic 10 basketball commissioner Charlie Theokas restored West Virginia's victory two days later, noting that "[w]hen the referees signaled Rowe's field goal was good, and subsequently left the floor, the game was over."[16] Rowe again led the team in scoring (14.4 ppg) and rebounding (7.0 rpg) and earned second-team All-Atlantic 10.[6] West Virginia won the Atlantic 10 regular season-championship.[12]

Following his career, Rowe held the West Virginia career field goal percentage (593/1,095, 54.2%) record for four seasons and the career games started record (114) for six seasons. He also held less auspicious career records for turnovers and fouls.[6] Rowe's record for consecutive starts (114) lasted until 2006 (Johannes Herber).[17] Rowe was a four-time conference player of the week.[6] Rowe is remembered for his dunking ability and his 42-inch (110 cm) vertical jump.[18][3] He described his greatest memory as the February 27, 1983, upset of number-one-ranked UNLV.[3] It would be almost 33 years before West Virginia defeated another number-one-ranked team.[19]

Professional career[edit]

Player[edit]

In 1985, Rowe joined the Shell Azodrin Bugbusters of the Philippine Basketball Association;[20] he played in the PBA again in 1986.[21] Rowe was teammates with Nancy Lieberman on the Long Island Knights of the United States Basketball League in 1987.[22] Rowe played with the Savannah Spirits early in the 1987–88 season before being waived in late November.[23] On December 8, 1987, the International Basketball Association conducted its draft with Lester Rowe being selected in the first round with the fourth pick by Ohio.[24] When four of the ten IBA teams wanted to delay commencement of the league until 1989, the other six formed the World Basketball League (WBL) for players listed at 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) or less.[25] On April 15, 1988, he signed with the Youngstown Pride of the WBL, where he was teammates with his former Co-Player of the Year Hall.[26] In July, Rowe, who was listed as a center in this league for short players, was traded to the Vancouver Nighthawks.[27] He also played in Argentina, France, Germany, and Venezuela.[28]

Rowe was inducted into the West Virginia University Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.[29]

Coach[edit]

Rowe was hired as an assistant coach for Gale Catlett and West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball in September 1997. He performed coaching, recruiting, scouting and administrative duties. He served on the staff for five seasons, highlighted by a Sweet Sixteen run by the 1997–98 team in the 1998 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.[28][30] With five games remaining for West Virginia in the 2001–02 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, Catlett resigned during his 24th season as head coach.[31] At first, Dan Dakich was announced as Catlett's replacement after Bob Huggins rejected the job.[32] Eventually, incoming head coach John Beilein brought all three of his assistants from Richmond to fill out his staff.[33]

Rowe had coaching offers but did not want to move from Morgantown, West Virginia, at that stage of his life.[3] From 2002 to 2010, Rowe served as a commercial property manager and sales executive.[28][2] Rowe became an assistant coach for Mike Carey and West Virginia Mountaineers women's basketball in 2011.[28][30] He was reprimanded by Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby for his involvement in a post-game melee at the Bank of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine Classic at the Stan Sheriff Center on November 17, 2013.[34] His tenure lasted until 2019, with the team earning both a regular season Big 12 Conference championship (2014) and a Big 12 Conference Tournament championship (2017) with Rowe.[28][30] In July 2019, Rowe was hired by the Northern Kentucky Norse women's basketball team.[35] On July 1, 2020, Rowe joined the Xavier Musketeers women's basketball staff under head coach Melanie Moore.[30] Moore and her staff were fired following the 2022–23 season.[36]

Personal[edit]

Rowe has two daughters, Monalisa (born 1991/92) and Monique (born 1993/94).[28][2] Mona was an all-state basketball player as a junior, but she suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in her 2008–09 senior season.[37] Rowe met his wife, Lisa, in Morgantown.[3]

Footnotes[edit]

  1. ^ The Eastern Athletic Association (Eastern 8 for short) rebranded as the Atlantic 10 Conference following the 1982 season.[5]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ "24 Lester Rowe". West Virginia Mountaineers. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e Furfari, Mickey (March 18, 2013). "'Lester Rowe from Buffalo' outstanding in early 1980s". Times West Virginian. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Morgantown still home to Rowe". Charleston Daily Mail. February 17, 2004. p. 4B. ProQuest 332011938. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  4. ^ "WNY's Top Players, ScorersOP". The Buffalo News. April 8, 1989. p. B4. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  5. ^ "Eastern Eight Adds Teams, Hires William Morris Agency". Daily Record. Associated Press. June 11, 1982. p. 21. Retrieved August 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h "2021–22 West Virginia Men's Basketball Record Book" (PDF). West Virginia Mountaineers. 2022. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  7. ^ "WEST VA. WINNER IN FINAL". The New York Times. March 13, 1983. ProQuest 424581414. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  8. ^ "Stansbury, Lojewski join Atlantic 10 tour". Philadelphia Daily News. April 26, 1983. p. 63. ProQuest 1814250507. Retrieved April 6, 2023. Temple junior Terence Stansbury and St. Joseph's sophomore Bob Lojewski will join...juniors Tim Kearney of West Virginia, Edwin Green of Massachusetts and Andy Sisinni of Duquesne; sophomores Mike Brown of George Washington, Chris Remley of Rutgers, Lester Rowe of West Virginia and Donald Russell of Massachusetts and freshmen Troy Webster of George Washington, Rusty Cordua of Rhode Island and Barry Mungar of St. Bonaventure.
  9. ^ Fleischman, Bill (June 16, 1983). "Sports People". Philadelphia Daily News. p. B4. ProQuest 1814263851. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  10. ^ Newman, Chuck (November 18, 1983). "Atlantic 10 has high hopes for second season". Philadelphia Inquirer. p. C.3. ProQuest 1822246911. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  11. ^ Weiss, Dick (November 18, 1983). "CHARTING THE ATLANTIC 10". Philadelphia Daily News. p. 124. ProQuest 1814295512. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  12. ^ a b "2019–20 Media Guide". Atlantic 10 Conference. Fall 2019. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  13. ^ Newman, Chuck (November 9, 1984). "New leadership gives Atlantic 10 a new outlook". Philadelphia Inquirer. p. E.3. ProQuest 1820045508. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  14. ^ "College Basketball Roundup West Virginia 'Wins' Game, 51-50, but Then Loses It, 50-49". Los Angeles Times. January 6, 1985. p. 11. ProQuest 292047442. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  15. ^ Vetrone, Bob Jr. (January 31, 2006). "Big 5 memory: Jan. 5, 1985". Philadelphia Daily News. p. 54. ProQuest 1908865344. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  16. ^ "W. Virginia wins—2 days after game". Chicago Tribune. January 8, 1985. p. 4:3. ProQuest 290816184. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  17. ^ Hickman, Dave (January 29, 2006). "Different Garden party today for WVU". Sunday Gazette - Mail. p. 1D. ProQuest 332392164. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  18. ^ "Coliseum's reopening easing life: Basketball team, walkers among those affected by closing". Charleston Daily Mail. October 31, 2000. p. 1A. ProQuest 331804916. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  19. ^ Statman, David (January 16, 2016). "WVU eyes historic feat vs. Oklahoma; After a convincing victory over No. 1 Kansas on Tuesday night, West Virginia has a chance to achieve a rare feat Saturday: The Mountaineers can knock off the Nos. 1 and 2 teams in the country in the same week". Pittsburgh Tribune - Review. ProQuest 1757503761. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  20. ^ Clarito, Ariel Ian (December 13, 2022). "The last time a guest team won a PBA title". Rappler. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  21. ^ Esmonde, Donn (January 18, 1986). "Little 3 No Longer Exists For Atlantic-10 Bonnies". The Buffalo News. p. B-2. Retrieved August 18, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ Cimini, Rich (June 4, 1987). "Lieberman Returns and Contributes". Newsday. p. 149. ProQuest 277867756. Retrieved April 7, 2023. Lieberman played a total of 14 minutes - six more than her average - and scored two points. She had four assists, including a behind-the-back pass on a break that resulted in a layup by Lester Rowe (20 points).
  23. ^ "Transactions". Rapid City Journal. November 27, 1987. p. C6. Retrieved August 18, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "Basketball". USA Today. December 9, 1987. p. 11C. ProQuest 305967304. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  25. ^ Bonkowski, Jerry (May 18, 1988). "Little-man's league has big plans on drawing board". USA Today. p. 08C. ProQuest 306063834. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  26. ^ "Transactions: [List]". The New York Times. April 15, 1988. p. D22. ProQuest 426803949. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  27. ^ "Deals". The Seattle Times. July 23, 1988. p. D5. ProQuest 384736648. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  28. ^ a b c d e f "Lester Rowe". West Virginia Mountaineers. 2018. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  29. ^ "WVU adds 8 to Sports Hall of Fame". Charleston Gazette-Mail. May 25, 2014. p. D4. ProQuest 1529419634. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  30. ^ a b c d "Lester Rowe Named Assistant Women's Basketball Coach". GoXavier.com. July 1, 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  31. ^ "END OF AN ERA: WHAT'S NEXT FOR MOUNTAINEER BASKETBALL ?: ; It's Drew's baby for rest of season". The Charleston Gazette. February 15, 2002. p. 1B. ProQuest 331318509. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  32. ^ "Dakich promises no-nonsense approach to Mountaineers". The Charleston Gazette. April 5, 2002. p. 1B. ProQuest 331054920. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  33. ^ "Assistants follow Beilein from Richmond". The Charleston Gazette. April 19, 2002. p. 5B. ProQuest 331161000. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  34. ^ Lewis, Ferd (November 21, 2013). "West Virginia coach reprimanded over Hawaii melee". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. ProQuest 1460427089. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  35. ^ "Lester Rowe". NKUnorse.com. July 2019. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  36. ^ "Moore Tenure Wraps Up for Xavier Women's Basketball". GoXavier.com. March 6, 2023. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  37. ^ Hanlon, Eric (February 2, 2009). "UHS hanging tough despite loss of Rowe". The Dominion Post. ProQuest 456272822. Retrieved April 7, 2023 – via McClatchy-Tribune Business News.

External links[edit]

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