The Enduring Legacy of Loyola University Chicago Basketball
Loyola University Chicago boasts a rich basketball history, marked by iconic moments, influential figures, and a commitment to breaking down barriers. From a historic national championship to recent Final Four appearances, the Ramblers have consistently captivated fans and left an indelible mark on the sport. It’s no secret Loyola is known for its men’s basketball team. Gentile Arena hosts sold-out games with fan-packed stands cheering the Ramblers to victory.
Early Years and Coaching Excellence
The program's foundation was built in its early years, setting the stage for future success. In 1923, the team hired head coach Leonard D. Sachs, who’s now in The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
The Groundbreaking 1962-1963 Season: A Championship Run and a Stand Against Segregation
The 1962-1963 season stands as a watershed moment in Loyola basketball history. The Loyola University Chicago teams of the early 1960s, coached by George Ireland, are thought to be responsible for ushering in a new era of racial equality in the sport by shattering all remaining color barriers in NCAA men's basketball. Up until the 1962-1963 season, there was an unwritten rule in college basketball which said no coach should play more than three Black players on the court at one time. Beginning in 1961, Loyola broke the longstanding gentlemen's agreement (not to play more than three black players at any given time), putting as many as four black players on the court at every game. For the 1962-63 season, Ireland played four black Loyola starters in every game. That season, Loyola also became the first team in NCAA Division I history to play an all-black lineup, doing so in a game against Wyoming on December 29, 1962.
One player was fourth-year point guard Jerry Harkness, who averaged 21.4 points per game during the season. The team won their first 21 games of the year and finished the regular season 24-2, good enough for an NCAA tournament bid.
In that season's NCAA tournament, Loyola defeated the all-white team of then-segregated Mississippi State by a score of 61-51, a game especially notable because the Bulldogs defied a state court order prohibiting them from playing against a school with black players. The game itself was friendly and polite. “This is more than a ball game,” Harkness said. “You better not play against any more white teams in the tournament,” some threats said, according to NPR. “Please win,” the community said, according to Harkness.
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The Ramblers beat the Bulldogs 61-51 and took on two-time defending champions University of Cincinnati in the championship game. In 1963, Loyola won the 1963 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament (then the "NCAA University Division") men's basketball national championship under the leadership of All-American Jerry Harkness, defeating two-time defending champion Cincinnati 60-58 in overtime in the title game.
Chicago was abuzz when the team returned to the city, and Mayor Richard J. Daley welcomed Loyola back home with open arms, according to the Loyola Archives. Surviving team members were honored on July 11, 2013, at the White House to commemorate the 50th anniversary of their victory. The entire team was inducted in November of that year in the College Basketball Hall of Fame.
Post-Championship Era and Coaching Changes
With Loyola, Ireland earned a career record of 321-255 and reached the NCAA tournament three other times. The legendary Mississippi State game was honored in 2012 when the Bulldogs were invited back to Chicago to play Loyola. Loyola saw continued success with a return to the tournament in 1963 with only three losses in their season.
Talented Squads of the 1970s
The 1970s were also filled with extremely talented squads - they were the all-decade team. Center LaRue Martin even graduated from Loyola in 1972, and in the same year was the No. 1 overall selection by the Portland Trailblazers in the NBA draft.
A Cinderella Run to the Final Four in 2018
Another monumental moment for Loyola was when they reached the Final Four in 2018. The team was one “Created by Culture” - through their intense support of one another and the support of Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, BVM. In the tournament, the Ramblers’ second-round win over No. 3 seeded University of Tennessee made history because of their ranking. The team was propelled further after beating No. Despite the Cinderella run, the Ramblers ended up falling short to the University of Michigan in a “red-eyed and sniffling” 69-57 loss.
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Home Venues: A Journey Through Chicago
The team's original home venue was the on-campus Alumni Gym. However, Loyola later moved to play their games at DePaul University's Alumni Hall, and subsequently moved around, with stints at Northwestern University's McGaw Memorial Hall (today known as Welsh Ryan Arena), the University of Illinois at Chicago's Illinois-Chicago Pavilion, and the Chicago Stadium. From 1987 until 1989, Loyola played at the International Amphitheatre, but suffered poor attendance at that venue. From 1989 until 1994, the team played at the Rosemont Horizon (today known as the "Allstate Arena"), but suffered low attendance at the venue and moved back to the on-campus Alumni Gym in 1994. In 1996, the team moved into their current on-campus home, the Joseph J.
Conference Affiliations and Postseason Appearances
The Ramblers participate as members of the Atlantic 10 Conference. The Ramblers joined the Missouri Valley Conference in 2013, and stayed until 2022. The Ramblers have appeared in eight NCAA tournaments. Their combined record is 15-7. The Ramblers have appeared in seven National Invitation Tournaments. They reached the championship game twice, and won the third place consolation game once. Their combined record is 9-6. St. The Ramblers have appeared in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) once, winning it in 2015.
Drew Valentine Era
Drew Valentine is the current head coach, now in his 5th season.
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