Seattle Redhawks men's basketball

History

Notable alumni of Seattle University basketball include Elgin Baylor, Johnny O'Brien, Eddie O'Brien, Charlie Brown, Eddie Miles, Clint Richardson, John Tresvant, Tom Workman, Frank Oleynick, Charlie Williams, Jawann Oldham, Charles Garcia, and Plummer Lott.

1950s and 1960s: National prominence

Established in 1946, the program experienced a period of success during the 1950s and 1960s. Seattle produced more NBA players than any other school from 1960 to 1969. From 1953 to 1969, the Seattle Chieftains reached the NCAA tournament 11 times.

On January 21, 1952, the Seattle Chieftains beat the Harlem Globetrotters in a stunning 84–81 upset, led by Johnny O'Brien. In 1952, O'Brien became the first collegiate player to score 1,000 points in a season. Six years later, Elgin Baylor led the Chieftains to the championship game of the 1958 NCAA tournament. Seattle defeated top-ranked Kansas State in the Final Four, but fell to the Kentucky Wildcats in Louisville on March 22. Despite finishing runner-up, Baylor was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player and was the first selection of the 1958 NBA draft in April.

Seattle joined the West Coast Conference from 1971 to 1980. In 1974, Frank Oleynick was named WCC Player of the Year.

1980s to 2000s: NAIA and Rejoining NCAA

In 1980, local economic depression and mounting financial pressures for athletics competitiveness led the university to de-emphasize athletics and enter NAIA. After over 20 years in NAIA, Seattle rejoined the NCAA as a Division III member in 2001 and as a Division II member in 2002, joining the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in 2002. In 2007, Seattle won a share of the GNAC regular season title with Seattle Pacific, and was invited to the 2007 NCAA Division II tournament, the program's first postseason tournament appearance since 1969.

In 2008, the program rejoined the Division I level. In 2009, Cameron Dollar was hired as the new head coach to replace Joe Callero. From 2008 to 2012, Seattle played as an independent during NCAA reclassification. They declined an invitation to the now-defunct Great West Conference, and applied for membership with the West Coast Conference, Big Sky Conference, and Big West Conference, but were turned down.

2012 to 2025: Western Athletic Conference

In 2012, Seattle joined the Western Athletic Conference during the 2010–14 NCAA conference realignment. Seattle lost to New Mexico State in the 2015 WAC tournament finals. Seattle earned an invite to the 2015 CBI tournament, their first Division I postseason appearance since 1969, beating Pepperdine and Colorado before losing to Loyola (Ill.) in the semifinals. Seattle earned an invite to the 2016 CBI tournament, beating Idaho in the first round before losing to Vermont in the quarterfinals. Dollar was fired in 2017 after compiling a 107–138 record and two CBI appearances at Seattle.

On March 29, 2017, Jim Hayford was hired as the Redhawks' head coach to replace Dollar, coming from rival Eastern Washington. In his first year as head coach, Hayford compiled a 20–14 record, the Redhawks' first 20-win season since 2008 and first 20-win season in Division I play since the 1960s. The Redhawks fell to Central Arkansas in the first round of the 2018 CBI tournament. In his second year, Hayford compiled an 18–15 record, marking the Redhawks' first back-to-back 18+ win seasons since 2008–09 and 2009–10. The Redhawks fell to Presbyterian in the first round of the 2019 CIT tournament. Hayford resigned in 2021 after compiling a 64–55 record and two CBI appearances at Seattle.

Following Hayford's resignation, Chris Victor was named interim head coach in 2021, and was named head coach in 2022. In Victor's first year as head coach, Seattle was named WAC regular season co-champions with a 23-9 record, the Redhawks' winningest season since the 1950s. Victor was named the 2022 Don Haskins WAC Coach of the Year.

During the 2022–23 season, Seattle earned its first appearance in a Division I national poll since the 1964–65 season, receiving votes in the January 23 Coaches Poll, while also earning its highest-ever NET ranking at No. 61. Seattle won the 2024 CBI tournament over High Point for its first-ever championship title. From 2021 to 2024, the Redhawks went three straight seasons with 20+ wins, their first such streak since 1957–59.

2025 to present: West Coast Conference

In 2025, Seattle rejoined the West Coast Conference, after its initial membership from 1971 to 1980. Seattle's 9–2 record to start the 2025–26 season marked the Redhawks' best start since their 1968–69 season.

Home court

When Seattle returned to Division I in 2009, the Redhawks began playing the majority of their home games at KeyArena at Seattle Center. Following the 2017-18 season, KeyArena was closed for major refurbishment. During the closure, the Redhawks played the majority of their home schedule on-campus at the Redhawk Center. Seattle U also hosted its CBI games at the Redhawk Center in 2015 while KeyArena was in use for the NCAA men's basketball tournament. In 2021, following a two-year refurbishment, the former KeyArena reopened as Climate Pledge Arena.

Seattle now splits its home schedule between Climate Pledge Arena and the Redhawk Center. The team has also played select games at the ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington, known as the "ShoWare Classic."

Rivalries

Seattle U has two recognized rivals: Washington and Eastern Washington.

Washington

Main article: Seattle U–Washington men's basketball rivalry

Despite the two teams' proximity, their first meeting only occurred in the West-2 Regional semifinal round of the 1953 NCAA basketball tournament. The teams did not meet again until 1969, when they began a split home-and-home series, as played annually until 1980, and renewed again in 2009. The rivalry is known as the "Battle for Seattle."

Washington leads the series 35–6. In 2024, in the 40th meeting between the teams, Seattle snapped a 46-year old, 19-game losing streak in the rivalry with a 79-70 victory. The Redhawks defeated the Huskies again in 2025, the first time that Seattle claimed consecutive victories in the rivalry.

Eastern Washington

Seattle U and Eastern Washington have engaged in the "Intrastate Battle" rivalry game on a regular basis since 2009.

Eastern Washington leads the series 9–8. In 2017, a new chapter in the rivalry began when Jim Hayford left his head coaching position at EWU for the same job at Seattle U. Hayford's assistant, Shantay Legans, was hired as his successor. On December 3, 2017, in Hayford's first game against his former team and assistant, Seattle U won 85–64.

Postseason appearances

NCAA Division I tournament

Seattle has made the NCAA Division I tournament 11 times. They have a combined record of 10–13. The Redhawks have not reached the NCAA Division I Tournament since 1969, which is the fifth longest drought between appearances in NCAA Division I Tournament history, although they were not in Division I for 29 years of the drought.

NCAA Division II

In their time in NCAA Division II, Seattle made the tournament once. They had a record of 1–1.

NIT appearances

Seattle has made two appearances in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). They have a combined record of 0–2.

CBI appearances

Seattle has made four appearances in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI). They have a combined record of 7–3. They won the championship in 2024.

CIT appearances

Seattle made their first appearance in the CIT tournament in 2019. They have a combined record of 0–1.

Awards and honors

Retired numbers

Main article: List of NCAA men's basketball retired numbers

Seattle U has retired six jersey numbers, with the most recent being Tom Workman on February 5, 2011.

Conference awards

Coach of the Year

• 2022 – Chris Victor – WAC Coach of the Year
• 2022 – Chris Victor – NABC Coach of the Year for District 6

Player of the Year

• 1974 – Frank Oleynick – WCC Player of the Year

Freshman of the Year

• 1976 – Clint Richardson – WCC Freshman of the Year

Season-by-season records

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In popular culture

The 2006 film Glory Road depicts the 1956-66 Texas Western team, coached by Don Haskins, the first team with an all-black starting lineup to win the national championship. As depicted in the film, Seattle dealt Texas Western (now UTEP) its only defeat of its historic season.

References

References

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36. [http://static.psbin.com/4/6/wfos4lctbf4dq3/NorthwestConferenceHistory.pdf Unknown] {{deadlink. (June 2024)
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