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Ollie Johnson, a two-time West Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Year who earned All-America honors as a senior in 1964-65, will have his No. 32 jersey retired by the University on Saturday, January 25 when USF plays host to Santa Clara in Memorial Gymnasium.
Johnson becomes the sixth USF men's basketball to have his number retired, joining Bill Russell (6), K.C. Jones (4), Mike Farmer (17), Phil Smith (20) and Bill Cartwright (24).
Women's basketball players to have their numbers retired include Mary Hile-Nepfel (15) and Brittany Lindhe (40). Former baseball and women's volleyball standouts Tagert Bozied (19) and Brittanie Budinger (7) round out the list of former USF players who have had their numbers retired.
"I am overwhelmed by this tremendous honor," said Johnson. "USF has always been like a family to me and I was very fortunate to be surrounded by great teammates, coaches and a wonderful family. USF has a great basketball tradition and to be included among the great players who have had their numbers retired is extremely humbling."
"Retiring a number of an athlete is the ultimate honor a school or organization can bestow on a player," said USF Director of Athletics
Scott Sidwell. "Ollie was certainly one of the best players of his era on a dominant team and his accomplishments have stood the test of time. It is a richly deserved honor."
Johnson played an instrumental role in the resurgence of the USF basketball program to national prominence during his three-year varsity career from 1962-65. After a four-year run which saw USF win two national championships and go to three Final Fours from 1954-58, the Dons went through a four-year period in which they compiled a 42-62 record. Beginning with Johnson's sophomore season in 1962-63 (freshmen were not eligible), USF compiled a 65-19 record (.774), won three straight WCAC championships and made three NCAA Tournament appearances. He was a two-time NCAA All-Tournament selection and averaged 36 points and 18 rebounds in the 1965 NCAA Tournament.
"During his tenure at USF in the mid-1960's, Ollie was one of the premier players in the country," said former USF head coach Jim Brovelli, who was Johnson's teammate. "His ability, dedication and loyalty were keys in the program's resurgence to the national level. He remains a great representative of the University."
Johnson ranks sixth on USF's all-time scoring list with 1,668 career points and has the third highest scoring average in school history at 19.9 points per game. He also ranks second all-time in career rebounding, trailing only Bill Russell, and his 1,323 career rebounds rank fifth in WCC history.
Johnson is just one of four USF players, along with Bill Cartwright, Bill Russell and Darrell Tucker, to rank in the school's all-time top-10 in scoring and rebounding and is one of just two players, along with Cartwright, to rank in the all-time top-10 in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage.
He ranks in the school's top-10 in eight statistical categories, including total points (6
th; 1,668), scoring average (3
rd; 19.9), total rebounds (2
nd; 1,323), rebound average (2
nd; 15.7), field goal percentage (2
nd; .588), field goals made (7
th; 626), free throws made (3
rd; 416) and free throws attempted (2
nd; 630).
Johnson was selected in the first round of the 1965 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics with the eighth overall pick, but never played in the NBA. He played for the San Francisco Athletic Club in the Amateur Athletic Union and professionally in Belgium for three seasons.
Ollie resides in his native Washington D.C. and is a longtime employee of Catholic Charities.
