Basketball Hall of Fame Coach
Marv Harshman
Enshrined on April 7, 1985

Gonzaga University and Northwest Sports has chosen to use the annual Battle in Seattle event as a platform each year to honor a person who has made major contributions to basketball in Washington and the Pacific Northwest. The first recipient of the ‘Battle in Seattle’ basketball award will be presented to hall of fame coach Marv Harshman. Marv will be presented with this award during a 6:00 pm reception at the Red Lion Hotel in Seattle on the evening of Friday December 12, 2003. Marv will also be recognized at halftime of the Gonzaga vs. Missouri game.

Tickets to an evening with Marv Harshman can be purchased directly through Northwest Sports by calling 480-635-8720. Tickets for the event will be set at $30 and will include two drinks and Hors’ Dvors.

In the history of college basketball there may be no one who knows the terrain of any one state like Harshman. He spent 13 years at a small school, 13 more at a bigger one and his final 14 at its rival. A teacher, competitor and strategist, Marv Harshman was truly among the elite of collegiate coaches. In a distinguished 40-year career all in the state of Washington, Harshman earned the admiration and undivided attention of every team he coached. Harshman’s teams always reflected the coach: dignified, honest, full of class. From 1945 to 1985, Harshman won a total of 642 games with three separate Washington colleges. At Pacific Lutheran from 1945 to 1958, he coached four NAIA District I basketball champions. His 1957 team finished with a 28-1 record, and his 1958 team finished runner-up for the NAIA national title. Marv finished with a record of (241-121) at PLU. The next stop for Marv was Washington State University (155-181). In 13 years at WSU (1958-1971) Harshman produced three second-place teams in the conference. Harshman concluded his coaching career at the University of Washington (1971-1985) where he was selected NCAA Division 1 National Coach of the year in 1984 and Pac 10 Coach of the Year in 1982 and 1984. Four of his Washington teams won 20 or more games, with 11 of 14 squads winning at least 16 games. His career record at Washington was (246-146). This record includes a game vs UCLA on Feb 22, 1975 that dealt Legendary Coach John Wooden his final defeat with a 103-81 win. His 1984 Team finished in the sweet sixteen and Marv capped his UW career with back-to-back Pac 10 championships in 1984 and 1985. Marv also served on the U.S. Olympic Committee from 1975 to 1981.

Marv’s Pacific Lutheran playing highlights (1938-1941) include All-Conference team all four season’s, the team high scorer and conference MVP (1940-41). Team MVP from 1939-41 with conference scoring title in 1941. And was a Little All-American in 1941. Graduating in 1942 Marv, went to the Military and was Navy Chief Specialist from 1943-1945. Marv played on professional season with the Tacoma Mountaineer, of the Pacific Northwest Pro League after his discharge from the Navy. Currently Marv, 86, lives at his Bothell Washington home with his wife of 62 years, Dorothy. He’s still dialed into the game that he managed to reduce to bare simplicity during his four-decade tenure as coach.

A limited number of tickets for this reception are available for $00 and can be purchased at the Gonzaga Box office or by calling 480-635-8720. Missouri Head Coach Sndyer and Gonzaga Head Coach Few will be discussing Marv and Battle in Seattle game.