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Three elected to Hall Owls' Chaney, Duke's Krzyzewski, Moses Malone named
Updated: Wednesday May 30, 2001 7:35 PM
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- John Chaney looked around a crowded room, found an easy target and fired a friendly shot at one of his players. Chaney couldn't resist -- not even on the day he was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame. "I told Kevin Lyde this morning he almost ruined my chances, all the balls he dropped," Chaney joked. Lyde, a senior center, was one of several current and former Temple players who showed up at a news conference Wednesday to congratulate their coach on receiving one of the game's highest honors. Chaney, who has led the Owls to 17 NCAA tournament appearances in 19 seasons, joins former Philadelphia 76ers center Moses Malone and Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski as part of one of the smallest Hall of Fame groups in years. If Chaney has his way, it'll be even smaller at the induction ceremonies on Oct. 5.
"I wish we could keep it a secret," he said. "I'd like to slip right in without anybody recognizing it. ... I'm going to ask them if I can go in without being there. I'll write them a letter." The 69-year-old Chaney has compiled a 431-179 record at Temple. The Owls have won six Atlantic 10 Conference titles and have reached the regional semifinals of the NCAA tournament five times, including last season. Chaney has been selected Atlantic 10 coach of the year five times and national coach of the year twice with the Owls. Last season may have been Chaney's best. His team overcame the loss of two players -- both were kicked off the squad - and a seven-game losing streak for the first time in Chaney's tenure to reach the South regional finals. A 69-62 loss to top-seeded Michigan State prevented Chaney from making his first Final Four appearance. "This is all about people, all about service," Chaney said. Golden State Warriors forward Marc Jackson won't forget the service Chaney has given him. "He goes beyond coaching," said Jackson, who played two years under Chaney. "He's a father to a lot of athletes. He's our mentor. Those are the things that are important." Chaney, known as much for his early morning practices and his unique ability to enchant and offend, found himself searching for words for perhaps the first time in his life. "It's been overwhelming," he said. "I'm a little awestruck right now." Temple becomes one of nine colleges to have two coaches in the Hall of Fame. The late Harry Litwack, who coached the Owls from 1952 to 1973, was inducted in 1975. Before joining Temple, Chaney was head coach at Cheyney State University, where he had a record of 225-59 in 10 seasons. Chaney led Cheyney State to the 1978 Division II national championship and was named Division II national coach of the year twice. "There should be a People Hall of Fame and he should be in it," said St. Joseph's coach Phil Martelli. Former La Salle coach Speedy Morris also attended Wednesday's news conference "I'm one of the reasons he got in because he beat me about 50
times," Morris shouted from the crowd.
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