John Kresse

This article is about the college coach. For the fictional character, see John Kreese.
John Leopold Kresse V
Biographical details
Born (1943-04-17) April 17, 1943 (age 81)
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Playing career
1962–1964St. John's
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1965–1970St. John's (asst.)
1970–1973New York Nets (asst.)
1973–1979St. John's (asst.)
1979–2002College of Charleston
Head coaching record
Overall560–143 (.797)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
6 NAIA District 6 Champion (1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989)
NAIA National Champion (1983)
2 TAAC Tournament Champion (1997, 1998)
5 TAAC Regular Season Champion (1994–1998)
2 TAAC Division Champion (1997, 1998)
SoCon Tournament Championship (1999)
4 SoCon Regular Season Champion (1999–2002)
4 SoCon Division Champion (1999–2002)
Awards
3× TAAC Coach of the Year (1994, 1997, 1998)
SoCon Coach of the Year (1999)
5× NAIA District 6 Coach of the Year (1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1989)
NAIA Area 7 Coach of the Year (1982)
6× South Carolina State Coach of the Year (1983, 1987, 1988, 1994, 1996, 1999)
College Basketball Hall of Fame
Inducted in 2018

John Leopold Kresse V (born April 17, 1943 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American basketball coach and writer.[1][2]

Career and Personal Life

Kresse is former head coach of the College of Charleston Cougars and assistant coach with the New York Nets and St. John's University. Kresse has the 5th highest winning percentage (.797) of any Division 1 NCAA college basketball coach with 560 wins and 143 losses during his 23 years as head coach of the College of Charleston. Kresse retired from coaching duties in 2002. In 2005, Kresse was inducted into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame. The John Kresse Arena is named after him. Prior to the 2008–2009 basketball season, the College of Charleston moved to the Carolina First Arena where the playing surface is named John Kresse Court in honor of the coach. In 2009, Kresse was inducted into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame.

Kresse coached the College of Charleston to the 1983 NAIA basketball title. One of the teams the Cougars defeated in the 1983 NAIA tournament was Chaminade, which had earlier in the season defeated a great Virginia team led by Ralph Sampson. In 1990, the College of Charleston moved from NAIA to NCAA Division I, and soon became known as a giant killer. Over the next few years, North Carolina, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Stanford, and other major power programs would fall to the Cougars.

John Leopold Kresse V is married to Dr. Sue Sommer-Kresse who also worked at the College of Charleston, and they have two sons, John Leopold Kresse VI and Ryan Henry Kresse.

Head coaching record

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
College of Charleston Cougars (NAIA) (1979–1989)
1979–80 College of Charleston 17–11 17–11 District 6 Quarterfinal
1980–81 College of Charleston 25–5 25–5 District 6 Semifinal
1981–82 College of Charleston 25–5 25–5 District 6 Runner up
1982–83 College of Charleston 33–5 33–5 District 6 Champions NAIA National Champions
1983–84 College of Charleston 25–7 25–7 District 6 Runner Up
1984–85 College of Charleston 30–4 30–4 District 6 Champions NAIA Quarterfinal
1985–86 College of Charleston 26–9 26–9 District 6 Champions NAIA Quarterfinal
1986–87 College of Charleston 31–2 31–2 District 6 Champions NAIA 2nd Round
1987–88 College of Charleston 30–5 30–5 District 6 Champions NAIA 2nd Runner Up
1988–89 College of Charleston 26–6 26–6 District 6 Champions NAIA 2nd Round
College of Charleston: 268–59 (.820) 268–59 (.820)
College of Charleston Cougars (Independent) (1989–1991)
1989–90 College of Charleston 19–8 0–0 – NCAA D1 Compliance
1990–91 College of Charleston 15–12 0–0 – NCAA D1 Compliance
College of Charleston: 34–20 (.630)
College of Charleston Cougars (Independent) (1991–1993)
1991–92 College of Charleston 19–8 – Joined Division 1
1992–93 College of Charleston 19–8 –
College of Charleston: 38–16 (.704)
College of Charleston Cougars (TAAC) (1993–1998)
1993–94 College of Charleston 24–4 14–2 1st NCAA 1st Round
1994–95 College of Charleston 23–6 15–1 1st NIT First Round
1995–96 College of Charleston 25–4 15–1 1st NIT Second Round
1996–97 College of Charleston 29–3 16–0 1st (East) NCAA 2nd Round
1997–98 College of Charleston 24–6 14–2 1st (East) NCAA 1st Round
College of Charleston: 125–23 (.845) 74–6 (.925)
College of Charleston Cougars (Southern) (1998–2002)
1998–99 College of Charleston 28–3 16–0 1st (South) NCAA 1st Round
1999–2000 College of Charleston 24–6 13–3 1st (South)
2000–01 College of Charleston 22–7 12–4 1st (South)
2001–02 College of Charleston 21–9 9–7 T–1st (South)
College of Charleston: 95–25 (.792) 50–14 (.781)
Total: 560–143 (.797)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Selected bibliography

  • The Complete Book of Man-To-Man Offense (with Richard Jablonski) ISBN 1-58518-873-5
  • Attacking Zone Defenses (with Richard Jablonski) ISBN 1-58518-158-7

References

  1. ^ "John Kresse Coaching Record". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  2. ^ Miller, Andrew (2023-03-13). "College of Charleston legend John Kresse knows NCAA Tournament upsets". Post and Courier. Retrieved 2023-04-12.