Jucker Named to Chair of Health and Physical Education
April 1, 1972
Rollins College President Jack B. Critchfield
announced today the multiple appointment of Edwin L.
Jucker to the Raymond W. Greene Chair of Health and
Physical Education; as chairman of the College's
physical education department; and as the Tars' head
basketball coach.
The 51-year old Jucker will resign his current
position as Chairman of the Physical Education and
Athletic Department at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
(Troy, New York) July 1 to become the first holder of
the Greene Chair at Rollins. In addition to his noted
ability as an educator, Jucker has also coached the
university of Cincinnati basketball team to two national
championships in 1961 and 1962; was selected as National
Coach of the Year in 1963; coached the professional
Cincinnati Royals from 1967-69; and is the author of
Cincinnati Power Basketball, which sold more copies
in one year than any basketball book ever written.
Rollins alumnus Raymond W. Greene, a Winter Park
realtor, former mayor and long time friend and
benefactor of the College, endowed the chair in physical
education, requesting that, "the professor who occupies
the chair should be of the character and stature of Amos
Alonzo Stagg—he should be a strong personality who would
attract students to his courses and command their
respect." In mentioning Stagg, Chicago's "Grand Old Man
of Football," Greene said Stagg had played tennis at
Rollins on many occasions while recuperating at
Orlando's Florida Hospital.
The chair was endowed by Greene in 1967 through
property gifts valued at more than $250,00 in the hope
that such concern for health and physical education
would encourage reverence for the "amazing creation of
the human body and its functions."
In making the appointment, Dr. Critchfield stated
that "I cannot think of anyone better qualified to
represent the high ideals of the Greene Chair than Ed
Jucker. He is a proven leader and educator who has
gained national respect from his academic peers. Coupled
with our outstanding physical education faculty, I
believe he can give Rollins the kind of imaginative and
forceful guidance that will give us a truly
distinguished academic program in this area."
Jucker received his undergraduate degree in Physical
Education in 1941 from the University of Cincinnati; his
M.A. in Physical Education from Columbia University in
1950; and served as basketball coach at Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute before returning to Cincinnati in
1952 as assistant basketball coach and head baseball
coach. In 1960 he became varsity basketball coach at
Cincinnati where he compiled an amazing record of 110
wins and 28 losses in five seasons.
After coaching the Spanish Olympic Basketball Team in
1966, Jucker became head coach of the Cincinnati Royals
of the National Basketball Association in 1967. He
returned to R.P.I. in 1969 to hold his present position
as Director of Physical Education and Athletics.
Jucker will replace Boyd Coffie as head basketball
coach beginning with the 1972-73 season. Coffie resigned
his basketball post after nine seasons to devote full
time to his duties as the Tars' baseball coach.
The Juckers, his wife Joanne and four children, plan
to reside in Winter Park. He will assume his duties at
Rollins in September.
