Dick Parfitt

American basketball coach (1931–2021)

Dick Parfitt

Parfitt during the 1973–74 season

Biographical details
Born| (1931-05-13)May 13, 1931
Gratiot County, Michigan, U.S.
Died| September 6, 2021(2021-09-06) (aged 90)
Mount Pleasant, Michigan, U.S.
Playing career
1950–1953| Central Michigan
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1962–1971| Central Michigan (assistant)
1971–1985| Central Michigan
Head coaching record
Overall| 192–179
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
2 MAC regular season (1975, 1977)
Awards
MAC Coach of the Year (1975)

Richard Allen Parfitt (May 13, 1931 – September 6, 2021) was an American college basketball coach. He was head coach for Central Michigan University (CMU) from 1971 to 1985, during which time he led their move from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) to NCAA Division I.

Parfitt was born in Gratiot County, Michigan and attended Central Michigan College, where he played basketball and baseball for the Chippewas. Following his graduation in 1953, he became a teacher and high school basketball coach in Laingsburg, Michigan, starting a prep coaching career that would last until 1962 when he returned to his alma mater as an assistant basketball and baseball coach.[1] In 1971 he was named head coach upon the resignation of Ted Kjolhede.[2] Parfitt served as Central Michigan's head coach as the program transitioned from the NAIA to NCAA Division I status, joining the Mid-American Conference (MAC) in the 1972–73 season. Parfitt quickly built a successful program, winning conference titles and earning the school's first two NCAA tournament appearances in 1975 and 1977. In all, Parfitt served 14 seasons as the Chippewas' head coach, compiling a career record of 192–179.

Parfitt died on September 6, 2021, at age 90.[1][3]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Paul, Tony (September 8, 2021). "'Great basketball mind': Dick Parfitt, who coached CMU to two NCAAs, dies at 90". The Detroit News. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
2. ^ "CMU rewards graduate Parfitt for patience". Lansing State Journal. April 25, 1971. p. 62. Retrieved September 14, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.
3. ^ "Richard Allen Parfitt, 1931–2021". Legacy.com. Retrieved September 14, 2021.

## See also

[edit]

* Coaching record @ sports-reference.com

* v
* t
* e

Central Michigan Chippewas men's basketball head coaches

* No coach (1904–1907)
* Charles Tambling (1907–1910)
* Harry Helmer (1910–1916)
* Blake Miller (1916–1917)
* Charles Tambling (1917–1919)
* Garland Nevitt (1919–1920)
* Joe Simmons (1920–1921)
* Wallace Parker (1921–1924)
* Lester Barnard (1924–1926)
* Wallace Parker (1926–1927)
* Bourke Lodewyk (1927–1937)
* Dan Rose (1937–1943)
* Ron Finch (1943–1944)
* L. M. Sweeney (1944–1946)
* Dan Rose (1946–1954)
* Ted Kjolhede (1954–1971)
* Dick Parfitt (1971–1985)
* Charlie Coles (1985–1991)
* Keith Dambrot (1991–1993)
* Leonard Drake (1993–1997)
* Jay Smith (1997–2006)
* Ernie Zeigler (2006–2012)
* Keno Davis (2012–2021)
* Tony Barbee (2021– )

* v
* t
* e

Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Coach of the Year

* 1970: Snyder
* 1971: Hedric
* 1972: Snyder
* 1973: Hedric
* 1974: Nichols
* 1975: Parfitt
* 1976: Miller
* 1977: McDougal
* 1978: Weinert
* 1979: Nichols
* 1980: Nichols
* 1981: Yoder
* 1982: Yoder
* 1983: Nee
* 1984: Hedric
* 1985: Nee
* 1986: Peirson
* 1987: Coles
* 1988: Braun
* 1989: Majerus
* 1990: McDonald
* 1991: Braun
* 1992: Donewald
* 1993: Wright
* 1994: Hunter
* 1995: Sendek
* 1996: Braun
* 1997: Larranaga
* 1998: Hipsher
* 1999: Waters
* 2000: Waters
* 2001: Smith
* 2002: Heath
* 2003: Smith
* 2004: Witherspoon
* 2005: Coles
* 2006: Christian
* 2007: Joplin
* 2008: Christian
* 2009: Orr
* 2010: Ford
* 2011: Ford
* 2012: Murphy
* 2013: Dambrot
* 2014: Hawkins
* 2015: Davis
* 2016: Dambrot
* 2017: Dambrot
* 2018: Oats
* 2019: Oats
* 2020: Groce
* 2021: Kowalczyk
* 2022: Senderoff
* 2023: Kowalczyk
* 2024: Barbee

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