Simmons and Morris Named MAAC Honorees for 2015 Basketball Hall of Fame Honor Roll Class
MAAC Sports
EDISON, NJ – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) has announced La Salle University greats, Lionel Simmons and Coach William “Speedy” Morris as MAAC honorees to be inducted in the MAAC Honor Roll. Simmons and Morris will be enshrined in “The MAAC Experience” exhibit at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on October 17.
“Coach Morris and Lionel Simmons are great additions to the MAAC Honor Roll,” notes MAAC Commissioner Rich Ensor. “When I was hired in 1988 the La Salle program was emerging as a power in the MAAC, led by the play of the ‘L Train’ and the coaching of Speedy Morris. It was one of the great moments in MAAC history when Lionel was named the 1990 NCAA Division I Player of the Year.”
Lionel Simmons remains the NCAA’s third leading scorer having scored 3,217 points during his four years for La Salle. The 1990 John R. Wooden Award winner, Simmons was also a three-time MAAC Player of the Year, two-time All-American, a four-time All-Big 5 selection and a three-time Geasey Award winner (Big 5 MVP). During his career, the Explorers compiled a 100-31 record and advanced to three straight NCAA Tournaments in 1988-90. Simmons also represented the United States at the 1987 FIBA U19 World Championships and the 1989 FIBA Americas Championships helping the team win two silver medals.
The Philadelphia native was inducted into the La Salle Hall of Athletes in 1995 and the Big 5 Hall of fame in 1996. He went on to play for the Sacramento Kings in the NBA after being selected seventh overall in the 1990 draft. Simmons scored over 5,800 points during his NBA career averaging 12.8 points per game and 6.2 rebounds per contest. He was named to the 1991 NBA All-Rookie First Team after averaging 18.0 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game. Simmons is one of only four players to have his number retired by La Salle.
Morris spent 15 seasons as the head men's basketball coach of the Explorers (1986-01), compiling a school-record 238 wins. His teams reached the postseason six times, including four NCAA appearances, and won four MAAC Championships.
His best season came in 1989-90, when he and National Player of the Year Simmons led La Salle to a 30-2 record and a #12 ranking in the final Associated Press poll. The Explorers won 22 straight games that season and defeated Fordham, 71-61, to win its third straight MAAC title.
Morris guided La Salle to the NIT finals during his first season in 1987, beginning a stretch of six straight postseason berths.
He began his collegiate coaching career as the women's basketball coach at La Salle (1984-86), compiling a 43-17 record in two seasons. The Explorers won the MAAC Championship and reached the NCAA Tournament in 1986 after a 21-9 mark.
Morris was inducted into the La Salle Hall of Athletes and the Philadelphia Big 5 in 2010.
The Philadelphia native, who has been the head boys' basketball coach at St. Joseph's Prep since 2001, has also served as a high school coach at Roman Catholic (1968-81) and Penn Charter (1981-85). He is the winningest coach in Philadelphia Catholic League history.
He went 347-82 at Roman Catholic, 41-14 at Penn Charter and 214-64 at St. Joseph's Prep for a combined prep record of 602-160 (.790).
Each member institution of the MAAC honors one male and one female from its basketball “family” as part of the 2015 induction class. A dinner event will be on Saturday, October 17, 2015 at the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame Court of Dreams to recognize the Honor Roll inductees.
Each honoree will be profiled in the game program for the 2016 MAAC Basketball Championships, and will also be featured in a video display at “The MAAC Experience.”
The 2015 MAAC Hall of Fame Honor Roll includes:
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MAAC Honorees
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Lionel Simmons
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William “Speedy” Morris
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Institution Honorees
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School
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Male Honoree
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Female Honoree
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Canisius College
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Phil Seymore
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Sister Maria Pares
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Fairfield University
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Art Crawford
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Diane Oakley
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Iona College
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Pat Kennedy
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Toni Horvath-Killeen
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Manhattan College
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Brian Mahoney
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Rosalee Mason
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Marist College
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Steve Smith
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Ursula Winter
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Monmouth University
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John Giraldo
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Cindy Hook Chandler
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Niagara University
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Marshall Wingate
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Kathryn Rafter
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Quinnipiac University
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Frank “Porky” Vieira
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Ashlee Kelly
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Rider University
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Steve Jefferson
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Mary Ellen Baynes
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Saint Peter’s University
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Bill Stein
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Sheri Lauyer DeCorso
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Siena College
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Fred Shear
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Kristin Bernert
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