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Louis Orr, a success as both a player and a coach, was named head men's basketball coach at Bowling Green State University in April of 2007. Orr, a native of Cincinnati, performed one of the top coaching jobs in the Mid-American Conference in his initial campaign in Northwest Ohio. A fierce competitor and defensive-minded coach who stresses toughness and humility, Orr's programs play in the same image that he projected as a collegiate All-American and as an eight-year NBA veteran.
Orr took over a BGSU program that lost two starters from the previous year, including the MAC's leading scorer. On the eve of the 2007-08 season, Orr lost his most experienced post player, when Erik Marschall went down with an injury in October. Then, the Falcons lost arguably their top playmaker and the team's only senior on the eve of the conference schedule, when Ryne Hamblet was declared academically ineligible. Still, BGSU more than doubled the MAC win total for all of the prior season, going 7-9 in league play after the team went 3-13 in 2006-07. The Falcons posted wins over the teams picked to finish first, second and third in the East Division in the league's preseason poll. Those wins included a victory over Kent State, a nationally-ranked team at the time and the eventual MAC champion. Orr was named the Big East Conference's Coach of the Year in 2003, becoming the first person in league history to receive league honors as a player and as a coach. He took the Pirates to two NCAA tournaments and one NIT during his tenure. After the 2002-03 season, Orr also was honored by the USBWA as its District II Coach of the Year. During his tenure with the Pirates, his teams posted a nine-game overall winning streak and captured eight straight conference games during the 2002-03 season. He also saw his squad defeat #10 Notre Dame in 2003, and #13 Syracuse, #23 Providence and #4 Pittsburgh during the 2004 season.
Orr began his coaching career as an assistant under Pete Gillen at Xavier University in his hometown, spending four years there (1991-94). He also served assistant-coaching stints at Providence College (1994-96) and Syracuse (1996-2000), helping those three teams to a combined four NCAA tourney appearances and four NIT trips. SU went to the NCAA tourney three times (1998 through 2000) during his four years there, including two trips to the 'Sweet 16.' Orr, a star player out of Cincinnati's Withrow H.S., attended Syracuse University, where he was the first recruit of head coach Jim Boeheim. Orr was a sixth man for much of his freshman year (1976-77), before starting every game but one over his last three seasons. Orr shot better than 50 percent from the field in each of his four years, teaming with Roosevelt Bouie (the 'Bouie 'N Louie Show') to help SU to the Big East regular-season championship in the conference's inaugural season in 1980. That season, his senior year, Orr was named the team's MVP and was an All-Big East First-Team selection. SU posted a record of 100-18 during his four years, advancing to the NCAA Tournament in all four seasons. Orr earned All-America honors his senior season. He scored nearly 1,500 points (1,487) during his SU career, averaging 12.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game over his 116-game career while shooting 55.5% from the field. The 28th pick of the 1980 NBA Draft, Orr was chosen by the Indiana Pacers in the first round. He played two seasons with the Pacers and six more with the New York Knicks. Orr averaged 9.8 points per game over his professional career, with a career-high 12.7 ppg. for the Knicks in the 1984-85 campaign. He was named to the Syracuse University All-Century Team in 2000 and was honored as a Syracuse Letterwinner of Distinction in 2006. He and his teams are also active in the community having worked with Renovation House, Children's Specialized Hospital and the New Jersey Developmental Center during his stay at Seton Hall. He also has assisted at Rescue Missions in Albany and Syracuse, N.Y. His family includes wife Yvette, daughter Monica (24), a former basketball player at Fordham, goddaughter Dalria (24), and son Chauncey (14). Yvette is from nearby Ypsilanti, Mich.
THE ORR FILE Name: Louis M. Orr Date Appointed: April 5, 2007 Born: May 7, 1958 Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio High School: Withrow H.S. (1976) Education: Syracuse University (1980) Family: Wife - Yvette; Children - Monica (24) and Chauncey (14). Goddaughter -Dalria (24) Collegiate Records: As a head coach: 113-97 (seven seasons) As an assistant coach: 210-101 (10 seasons) As a player: 100-18 (four seasons) Overall collegiate playing and coaching record: 423-216 (21 seasons)
ORR'S COLLEGIATE COACHING EXPERIENCE 2007-08 13-17 7-9 in MAC play Head Coach, Seton Hall University 2005-06 18-12 NCAA First Round 2004-05 12-16 2003-04 21-10 NCAA Second Round 2002-03 17-13 NIT 2001-02 12-18 Totals 80-69 Head Coach, Siena College 2000-01 20-11 Tie-First, MAAC regular season Assistant Coach, Syracuse University 1999-2000 26-6 Big East Champions, NCAA Sweet 16 1998-99 21-12 NCAA First Round 1997-98 26-9 Big East Champions, NCAA Sweet 16 1996-97 19-13 NIT Totals 92-40 Assistant Coach, Providence College 1995-96 18-12 NIT Second Round 1994-95 17-13 NIT Second Round Totals 35-25 Assistant Coach, Xavier University 1993-94 22-8 MCC regular-season champions, NIT Quarterfinals 1992-93 24-6 MCC regular-season co-champions, NCAA 2nd Round 1991-92 * 15-12 1990-91 * 22-10 MCC regular-season and Tournament Champions, NCAA Second Round Totals 83-36 * Volunteer assistant
ORR'S COLLEGIATE PLAYING EXPERIENCE 1979-80 26-4 Big East Champion, NCAA Second Round 1978-79 26-4 NCAA Second Round 1977-78 22-6 NCAA First Round 1976-77 26-4 NCAA Second Round Totals 100-18
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