Aug. 7, 2008

While many basketball fans wonder how the current group of NBA stars representing the United States in the 2008 Beijing Olympics will fare in its quest for a gold medal, two USF hoops stars - K.C. Jones and Bill Russell - proudly represented their country in the 1956 Games in Melbourne, Australia, before embarking on legendary Hall of Fame careers in the NBA.

USF Hall of Fame coach Jimmy Needles was the head coach for the first ever United State Olympic Team and guided his squad to the 1936 Gold Medal at the Berlin Olympics. Remarkably the entire 1936 basketball tournament was held outdoors. The International Basketball Federation, which is the governing body of international basketball, used the 1936 tournament to experiment with outdoor basketball. Lawn tennis courts were used for the competition. This caused problems when the weather was adverse, especially during the final game.

Jones and Russell are two of four individuals associated with the USF basketball program to represent the United State in Olympic competition. Pete Newell pushed the Americans to the podium in the 1960 Olympics in Rome. With the gold medal, Newell became the firs coach in history to capture an NIT Championship (1949, USF), NCAA Championship (1959, Cal) and an Olympic Gold.

USF legend and NFL Hall-of-Famer Ollie Matson is the only athlete with more than one Olympic medal, when he doubled at the 1952 games in Helsinki, Finland. Matson won silver in the 4x400 relay and captured the bronze in the 440.

All told, nearly 20 coaches and athletes with USF connections have represented six countries in Olympiads. The Dons soccer program has produced the most Olympians with eight coaches/players representing four countries.

USF soccer leads all programs in Olympians with seven players and a head coach. Former Don All-American John Doyle competed the 1988 Calgary Games under the direction of former USF star Lothar Osiander, who also guided the 1992 squad.

Coaches and athletes with Green and Gold connections have tallied nine overall medals, including four gold, four silver and a bronze.

Incoming freshman cross country/track athlete Haley Nemra will represent the Marshall Islands in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Nemra will compete in the 800 meters.

All USF Olympians are listed below. Special thanks to Hannah Crutcher of the USF Hall of Fame Committee for compiling the bulk of this list. It is not our intention to intentionally leave anyone off this list. If you have information on other former Dons to compete, please email Ryan McCrary at mccrary@usfca.edu.

Andy Atuegbu, Soccer Player (USF: 1974 - 1977)
- Led Nigerian Olympic team in 1976
- Named To Soccer America's College Team of the Century.
- USF season scoring leader 1975, played 21 games, 0.7 goals avg., 14 goals
- 1975 soccer All-American, (second team)
- 1976 soccer All-American (first team)
- Selected MVP of the 1975 NCAA Finals
- Scored winning goal in 1976 NCAA Championship game
- Named MVP of the 1976 NCAA Finals
- Three-time All-American
- Elected to the USF Hall of Fame

Laurie Corbelli, Volleyball Coach (USF: 1986-1989)
- Member of the 1980 & 1984 U.S. Olympic Women's Volleyball Team (won silver)
- Earned West Coast Conference Coach of the Year honors in 1987, guiding team to the best league slate in program history (9-5)
- Ranks second in career coaching victories at USF

John Doyle, Soccer Player (USF: 1985 - 1988)
- Member 1988 U.S. Olympic team
- 1986 All-American (second team)
- 1985 winner Stephen Negoesco Award (Top Newcomer)
- 1988 All-American First Team WCC
- Member, 1990 U.S. World Cup team
- Scored game winning goal for US team to win its first ever COLNCACAF championship in 1991
- Named to the Soccer America U.S. Cup '92 All-Star team
- Named to the Soccer American All-Gold Cup Team
- Elected to the USF Hall of Fame

Hans Friessen, Soccer Player (USF: 1968 - 1971)
- 1968 Mexico Olympic team
- Played in 1969 NCAA Finals game
- Was on 1971 NCAA Western Regional wining team
- Three-time All-American Honorable Mention in 1969, 1970 and 1971

Mike Ivanow, Soccer Player (USF: 1966 - 1969)
- Goalkeeper 1972 U.S. Olympic team
- Soccer All-American, 1968 Honorable Mention
- Member NCAA championship team 1966, recorded shutout against Army
- Two-time first team all-conference in 1967 and 1968

K. C. Jones, Basketball Player (USF: 1951-1956)
- Member of 1956 U.S. Gold Medal Olympic Team
- Helped USF to then record 60 consecutive NCAA winning streak
- Led USF with 24 points in 1955 NCAA championship game
- Scored 893 career points with USF
- First Team All-American 1956, guard
- Elected NCAA Hall of Fame
- Played for Boston Celtics from 1958-1967, winners of 8 NBA titles

Ollie Matson, Football/Track and Field (USF: 1949-1952)
- Won silver medal in 4 x 400 relay for the U.S.1952
- Won bronze medal in 440 run for the U.S.1952
- Set NCAA record for rushing 3,166 yards as starter
- Senior year achieved record of 1,566 yards and 21 touchdowns
- Led 1951 team to first undefeated season, named All-American
- Played with Cardinals, Rams, Lions and Eagles
- Named Rookie of Year 1952, All-NFL 1954 - 1957, all-Pro 5 times
- Inducted in the USF Hall of Fame in both football and track
- Inducted NFL Hall of Fame 1972

Jimmy Needles, Basketball Coach (USF: 1924 - 1931, 1943, 1944)
- Led 1936 U.S. basketball team to its first Olympic gold medal
- Led 1929 USF team to a 23-2 record, capturing the championship of the "Pacific Coast and all other titles pertaining thereto"

Haley Nemra, Cross Country/Track (USF: 2008 - Present)
- Representing the Marshall Islands in its first ever Olympic contingent in 2008
- Will compete in the 800 meters

Pete Newell, Basketball Coach (USF: 1946 - 1950)
- Coached U.S. basketball team to Olympic Gold in 1960
- Led USF Dons to first national title, 1949 NIT
- Also coached baseball and men's golf at USF, guiding the Diamond Dons to a 14-1 overall record in 1949
- Made additional basketball coaching stops at Michigan State and California, winning NCAA crown with Cal (1959)
- USF career record of 70-37 (4 years) and total NCAA mark of 234-123 (14 years)
- Elected to the Naismith Hall of Fame
- Elected to the NCAA Hall of Fame
- Served as general manager of LA Lakers and San Diego Rockets

Lothar Osiander, Soccer Player (USF: 1965 - 1969)
- Coached the 1988 and 1992 Olympic teams
- Helped USF win conference and regional championships in 1965
- Scored final goal in 1966 NCAA Championship game
- Coached the U.S. National Team coach from 1986 - 1988
- Coached U.S. team to gold in Pan Am games 1991
- Led Los Angeles Galaxy to 1996 MLS Championship

Hugo Perez , Soccer Assistant Coach (USF: 2002-04)
- Member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic team
- Played in 1986 and 1990 World Cup
- Named National Player of the Year in 1991
- Played professionally for the L.A. Aztecs and San Diego Sockers
- Also played professionally in France, Sweden, Saudi Arabia and El Salvador

Alex Roboostoff, Soccer Player (USF: 1968 - 1970)
- Member of the 1972 U.S. Olympic team
- Two-time first team all-conference in 1967 and 1968
- Member of the 1969 NCAA finals team
- All-American Honorable Mention in 1970
- 1971 second team all-Conference
- Three-time All-American

Sue Rojcewicz, Women's Basketball Coach (USF: 1982-1987)
- Member of the 1976 U.S. Olympic Women's Basketball Team (won silver)
- Two-time All-American at Southern Connecticut
- Guided USF to the 1987 West Coast Conference Championship in 1987
- Compiled a 71-63 overall record as head coach of the Lady Dons

Fernando Rosales, Soccer Player (USF: 1968-69)
- 1968 El Salvador Olympic team
- Played on 1969 NCAA Finals team
- All-American Honorable Mention in 1969

Bill Russell, Basketball Player (USF: 1953-1956)
- Member of 1956 U.S. Gold Medal Olympic team
- Played on USF NCAA championship teams in 1955 and 1956
- 1,636 career points, 1,606 rebounds (WCC record) in three USF varsity seasons
- Named MVP in 1955 NIT Tourney (Preseason), shot 54.1 from the floor
- Elected to the USF Hall of Fame
- Elected to Naismith Hall of Fame
- Elected to the NCAA Hall of Fame
- Two-time All-American First Team in 1955 and 1956
- Led Boston Celtics to 11 NBA Championships in 16 seasons

David Sheldon, Baseball Player (USF: 1984 - 1985)
- Played on the 2000 Italian Olympic team
- 1984 Record Book: 16 home runs, 5 victories
- 1985 Record Book: 64 runs batted in
- 1985 hit 16 homeruns, ranked fifth in USF single-season record book
- 1985 Named All-West Coast Conference First Team
- 1985 USF MVP - Dante Benedetti Award
- Played professionally in the Italian League