Coach

High School: Reading, Class of 1919

College(s): Bucknell University

Deceased: July 1967

Background: Alvin ‘Doggie’ Julian was a three sport star at Reading High and later at Bucknell University. In a 41-year coaching career that included stops at Albright, Muhlenberg, Holy Cross, Dartmouth, and the Boston Celtics, Al established himself as a shrewd basketball coach. In 1947 at Holy Cross, he transformed a team of scrappy players including Bob Cousy and George Kaftan and led them to the NCAA title and a 27-3 record. The following season Holy Cross again advanced to the Final Four and finished third with a 26-4 record. In three seasons at Holy Cross, Al had an incredible 65-10 record. After two years coaching the Boston Celtics, he took his disciplined brand of basketball to Dartmouth, where the Big Green became an Ivy League power, winning titles in 1956, 1958, and 1959. Al coached in five NCAA tournaments compiling a record of 7-3. He led two of his Muhlenberg teams to the NIT quarterfinals. He also wrote a popular text, ‘Bread and Butter Basketball’. Doggie is a member of the Reading High, Bucknell University, Helms Foundation, and the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame Berks County Chapter (1976) and the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 1976. ‘Doggie’ is the greatest Reading born basketball coach in history having been elected into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1968 and the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.