About Al McGuire

Al McGuire: A Detailed Biography

Early Life and Background

  • Full Name: Alfred James McGuire

  • Born: September 7, 1928, in New York City, New York

  • Family: One of six children in an Irish-Catholic family; grew up in a working-class neighborhood in Rockaway Beach, Queens.

  • Education: Attended St. John’s Preparatory School, then St. John’s University in Queens, New York, where he played college basketball under coach Frank McGuire (no relation).

Playing Career

  • College: St. John’s University (1947–1951)
    McGuire was a scrappy guard known more for hustle and defense than scoring. He captained the team and helped St. John’s to national prominence during his tenure.

  • Professional Career:

    • NBA Teams: New York Knicks (1951–1952), Baltimore Bullets (1954)

    • Though not a star, McGuire’s playing style reflected the gritty, street-tough basketball roots of New York City playgrounds.

    • He retired from playing after just a couple of seasons and began coaching soon afterward.

Coaching Career

Dartmouth College (Assistant, 1955–1957)

  • Began his coaching career as an assistant, learning the fundamentals of program building and recruitment. Also the head coach of the freshmen team.

Belmont Abbey College (Head Coach, 1957–1964)

  • Located in North Carolina, McGuire built the small Catholic college into a strong NAIA program.

  • Compiled a record of 109–64.

  • His success drew attention from larger schools, setting the stage for his move to Marquette.

Marquette University (Head Coach, 1964–1977)

  • McGuire took over a program with limited national visibility, a 5-21 record and turned it into a powerhouse.

  • Record: 295–80 (.787 winning percentage)

  • Achievements:

    • NIT Championship: 1970 (when the NIT was still highly prestigious)

    • NCAA Tournament Appearances: 10 (11 NCAA bids earned, but opted for NIT in 1970)

    • Final Four: 1974 (lost to NC State)

    • NCAA National Championship: 1977, defeating North Carolina 67–59 in the title game — McGuire’s final game as head coach.

    • 1971 AP/UPI Coach of the Year

    • 1974 NABC Coach of the Year

  • Assistant coaches included Rick Majerus and Hank Raymonds

  • 26 of his players were drafted into the NBA or ABA

  • Home winning streak of 81 straight from 1967 to 1973 still ranks as the fifth longest in NCAA history

Summary of Career Record

Total College Record as Head Coach: 404–144 (.737)

In the decade of the 1970’s, Marquette had a record of 252-40 for a winning percentage of .863. Only UCLA of the 1970’s and Kentucky of the 1940’s had better decades in the history of college basketball.

Broadcasting Career (1977–2000)

After retiring, McGuire became one of television’s most beloved basketball television analysts.

  • Worked for NBC and later CBS, teaming with Billy Packer and Dick Enberg.

  • Their chemistry on air — Enberg’s polish, Packer’s analysis, and McGuire’s emotion — became legendary.

  • He brought color, humor, and humanity to sports broadcasting.

  • Also worked with Bob Costas, Tim Brando, Marv Albert, Brent Musberger, Don Criqui, Verne Lundquist, Tim Ryan and Pat Hughes.

  • Nominated for two Emmy Awards for commentary.

  • Also did analyst work for the Marquette Basketball local TV Network in the late 1990’s.

Later Life and Death

  • In September of 1978, McGuire started Al’s Run to raise money for Children’s Hospital of Milwaukee

  • McGuire continued to live in Brookfield, WI after retirement

  • Diagnosed with leukemia in 1999.

  • Passed away on January 26, 2001, at age 72.

  • He received widespread tributes from the basketball, broadcasting, and political communities.

Legacy and Honors

  • Inducted into the Marquette “M” Club Hall of Fame in 1980

  • Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (1992)

  • Inducted into the Wisconsin Hall of Fame in 1995

  • Inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame (2006 - posthumously)

  • Inducted into the Belmont Abbey College Hall of Fame (2008 - posthumously)

  • 1987 and 1989 Emmy nominee as Outstanding Sports Personality Analyst

  • Marquette’s Home Arena (Fiserv Forum) includes the Al McGuire Court, named in his honor.

  • The Al McGuire Center at Marquette (opened in 2004) houses the school’s athletic offices, training facilities, and serves as the home court for women’s basketball and volleyball.

  • Subject of a one-man play, “McGuire,” written by Dick Enberg

  • Demanded his players use basketball, not let basketball use them. Nearly every one of his players earned their degree.

  • Remembered as one of the sport’s most unique and humanistic figures — a man who cared more about people than trophies.

  • His quirky sayings and philosophies became part of the cultural lexicon known as McGuirisms.

  • The Al’s Run event last for 45 years and raised over $20 million for Children’s Hospital of Milwaukee. At it’s peak, over 30,000 runners participated in the 10K race.

Black and white photo of Al McGuire in a St. John basketball uniform, smiling and sitting indoors.
Al McGuire in yellow shirt playing basketball in front of a group of young people
Mcguire Butch Lee
Marquette Universeity coaching staff in 1977 with head coach Al McGuire, assistant coaches Hank Raymonds and Rick Majerus sitting on the bench during the NCAA finals when Marquette beat North Carolina.
Hall of Fame plaque with a portrait of Al McGuire surrounded by a laurel wreath, with commemorative text about his coaching career and achievements.
Al McGuire bronze sculpture with arms raised, standing in front of a mural of a basketball game and cheering crowd at the Al McGuire Center at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Picture of Dick Enberg, Al McGuire and Billy Packer, perhaps the greatest broadcast trio in sports history
Al McGuire riding his motorcycle through a green, wooded area during autumn.
Mcguire president carter
Al McGuire speaking in front of a huge crowd of runners at Al's Run, which earned money for Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee