Tom Jorgensen

Thomas A. "Tom" Jorgensen, Jr., sometimes known as Jorgy, (January 2, 1935 – November 29, 2013)[1] was an American former basketball coach and player.[2][3] He was the head coach of the Northern Illinois Huskies men's basketball from 1966 to 1973, compiling a record of 95–61 (.609). He played college basketball at the University of Michigan from 1953 to 1956. He was also an assistant basketball coach at Michigan from 1960 to 1966.

Tom Jorgenson
Jorgensen from 1956 Michigan team portrait
Current position
TeamAurora, Colorado
Biographical details
Born(1935-01-02)January 2, 1935
Illinois, United States
DiedNovember 29, 2013(2013-11-29) (aged 78)
Playing career
1953–1956Michigan
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1960–1966Michigan (asst.)
1966–1973Northern Illinois

Early years

Jorgensen attended Parker High School in the Chicago's Englewood neighborhood.[4]

University of Michigan

Jorgensen played college basketball at the University of Michigan from 1953 to 1956. He was the team's second leading scorer for three consecutive years. He had a career total of 862 points for the Wolverines.[5][6] He was also selected as the captain of the 1955–56 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team.[6][7] In 1955, The Michigan Daily wrote of Jorgensen: "His deadly outside set shot and excellent dribbling ability made him one of the Big Ten's best all-around ballplayers."[7]

Coaching and scouting career

After graduating from Michigan, Jorgensen became a basketball coach at Maumee High School near Toledo, Ohio. He also played in the Toledo Amateur Basketball Federation where he was the high scorer in 1957.[8]

Jorgensen was hired in 1960 as an assistant basketball coach under Dave Strack at Michigan.[9] He remained in that position through 1966.[10]

In 1966, Jorgensen was hired as the head coach of the Northern Illinois Huskies men's basketball team. He remained there for seven seasons. He compiled a record of 95–61 (.609) at Northern Illinois and led the team to the 1972 Mid-Continent Conference championship. Jorgensen's 1971-72 team defeated No. 5-ranked Indiana (85-71) and was ranked No. 18 in the Associated Press poll.[11] Jorgensen resigned as the head coach at Northern Illinois in March 1973.[12][13] Jorgensen was inducted into the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1998.[14]

In February 1975, Joregensen was hired as the supervisor of basketball officials for the Western Athletic Conference.[15]

In 1988, Jorgensen was hired as the chief scout for the Charlotte Hornets.[16]

Head coaching record
Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Northern Illinois (Mid-Continent Conference) (1966–1973)
1966–67 Northern Illinois 8–12
1967–68 Northern Illinois 10–14
1968–69 Northern Illinois 13–11
1969–70 Northern Illinois 13–12
1970–71 Northern Illinois 13–104–43rd
1971–72 Northern Illinois 21–47–11st
1972–73 Northern Illinois 17–8
Northern Illinois: 82–49 (.626)11–5 (.688)
Total:95–61 (.609)

      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

References
  1. "Thomas A. Jorgensen". Cremation Society of Colorado. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
  2. Korcek, Mark (29 November 2013). "Former NIU basketball coach Jorgensen passes away". Daily Chronicle. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  3. "Tom Jorgensen, Class of 1956". Alumni Association of the Michigan Alpha Chapter of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. December 2, 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  4. "Parker Wins on Jorgensen's 31 Points, 51 to 42". Chicago Daily Tribune. January 30, 1952. p. B2.
  5. "Statistics Archives, Men's Basketball Statistic Archive Query Page". University of Michigan.
  6. "University of Michigan Basketball Record Book" (PDF). University of Michigan. pp. 31–32.
  7. "Cagers Pick Jorgenson". The Michigan Daily. March 10, 1955.
  8. "Fed Basketball Players Begin Final Week of First Round: Jorgensen Leads American League in Point-Making". Toledo Blade. January 27, 1957.
  9. "2 Ex-Michigan Aces Become Cage Aids". The Milwaukee Sentinel. June 8, 1960.
  10. "Cage Fortunes Rise With Strack". The Michigan Daily. March 11, 1965.
  11. "The Boys Of Tom Jorgensen Men's Cage Era Return For Northern Illinois University Reunion". Northern Illinois University. June 6, 2005.
  12. Roy Damer (March 27, 1973). "Jorgensen resigns post at N. Illinois". Chicago Tribune. p. C4.
  13. Robert Markus (March 29, 1973). "Timing wrong for Jorgensen at NU". Chicago Tribune. p. C3.
  14. "NIU honors six new hall of fame inductees". Daily Herald. October 16, 1998.
  15. "Jorgensen hired". Tuscaloosa News. February 26, 1975.
  16. "Transactions". Schenectady Gazette. June 7, 1988.
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