Sports

Lewis creates UH legacy

Former coach led Coogs to 592 wins in 30 years

Cougar Sports Staff

It was only appropriate for Hofheinz Pavilionis basketball court to be branded with his in name in 1995, but itis been a long time coming that UH pay tribute to Guy V. Lewis in the form of a bobblehead doll.

When the Cougars face off against Conference USA rival Louisville at 8 p.m. Saturday, the first 3,000 fans will receive a Guy V. Lewis bobblehead doll.

The Cardinals are ranked No. 5 by The Associated Press while the Cougars are 6-12. Itis far from a marquee match-up, but for one night, records and rankings wonit matter.

Forget about the plaques and honors; the fragile keepsakes are todayis way of immortalizing athletes who have won a place in the hearts of fans. The Cougar crowd will also watch Saturday as Lewis is honored in a special halftime ceremony.

In the 35 seasons he devoted to UH basketball, Lewisi feats were more than enough to give the program a solid foundation.

After scrolling down a list of his achievements, itis safe to say Guy V. Lewis built the house and left the key under "welcome" mat, earmarking Cougar basketball as one of the Universityis most storied programs.

From 1956 to i86, Lewis led the basketball team to 592 wins, two Southwestern Conference championships, four SWC postseason tournament titles and five NCAA Final Fours.

But the wins are trumped by Lewisi monstrous role in integrating black athletes into the program.

Not only did the move shatter the idea of separating whites from blacks, but it also proved to be successful.

From back-to-back Final Four appearances (i68-i69) to Phi Slama Jama (i81-i84), Lewisi teams were catapulted by the likes of Elvin Hayes and Hakeem Olajuwon, respectively.

Along with Clyde Drexler, Hayes and Olajuwon went on to blazing NBA careers, sweating their way onto the list of the NBAis all-time "Top 50 Players" in 1996-i97.

Lewis coached 15 All-Americans and helped produced 11 first round and 29 overall NBA Draft selections. He will add the coming bobblehead doll night to a couple of other honors.

In 1998, Lewis was inducted into the UH Hall of Honor, and in Sept. 2002, Lewis received the first Don Haskins Texas Lifetime Achievement Award from the Houston Basketball Committee.

As a player, Lewis served as the team captain for the first two teams to end the season with a Lone Star Conference championship. In 1971, Lewis was inducted into the UH Hall of Honor.

Heis still (some may say unfairly) waiting on a call from the Hall of Fame.

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