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John Unice ’65 was the face of Washington & Jefferson College basketball four decades, establishing his legacy as both as a player and a coach. He came to W&J as a freshman in 1961 and was inserted into the starting lineup as a point guard in his fifth collegiate game, a spot he would not relinquish for the rest of his career. Unice played all 72 games during his four years.
Unice was a two-time team MVP and a two-time All-Presidents’ Athletic Conference honoree. Following his senior season, Unice was chosen to the all-district squad after averaging 14.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. He was coached by W&J Athletic Hall of Famer David Scarborough, who called Unice “the finest player I’ve ever coached”. Unice became the head coach at his alma mater in 1976 and took his first team onto the hardwood on Dec. 1, 1976, versus Saint Vincent College. Unice’s coaching career spanned 17 years and he led the Presidents to three PAC titles.
He was also named the PAC Coach of the Year three times. In 1984-85, Unice guided W&J to an 18-6 overall record and a trip to the NCAA Division III Tournament. The 18 wins tied a school record and were the most by a W&J squad since 1951. He was selected as the Small College District Coach of the Year. In 1994, Unice was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.
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