Skip To Main Content

University of San Francisco Athletics

Events

Composite Calendar +


  1963 West Coast Conference Champions

 
Ollie Johnson


Overall Record: 18-9 | WCC Record: 10-2

Head Coach: Pete Peletta
Overall Record: 18-9    WCC Record: 10-2
All-WCC Team: Ollie Johnson
Top Scorer: Ollie Johnson (17.3)    Top Rebounder: Ollie Johnson (14.3)
USF Hall-of-Famers: Jim Brovelli, Ollie Johnson

The Dons started another era of dominance on the Hilltop, capturing the West Coast Athletic Conference title with a 10-2 league record. The Dons guided by third year head coach Pete Peletta, came within two baskets of a perfect 12-0 league slate losing two tough nail biters in early February – 49-48 at San Jose State and 66-65 against rival Santa Clara.   

Center Ollie Johnson broke Bill Russell’s mark for the most points scored as a USF sophomore with 467 points – 17.3 per contest. Johnson also pulled down 14.3 rebounds per game. Junior forward Ed Thomas averaged 11 points and 6 rebounds per game and another junior Dave Lee added 10 points per contest. Junior guard Jim Brovelli added nearly 8 points per game and had the Dons high point game of the year when he poured in 28 points in a thrilling win over St. Mary’s.

The Dons lost to Oregon State 65-61 in the NCAA West Regional semifinal game, then ended the season with a 76-75 win over UCLA in the West Regional third place game. In the win over the Bruins, Johnson paced the Dons with 20 points. Thomas added 15 and Brovelli chipped in 13 points.

Did You Know? In addition to holding down the demanding job of head basketball coach Pete Peletta was also the Athletic Director at USF. Peletta also passed on the coaching bug to two of his players that season – both Dan Belluomini and Jim Brovelli played for the 1962-63 Dons squad and then later on took over the coaching reigns on the Hilltop. Belluomini coached the Dons for two seasons (1979-81) and Brovelli guided the Dons for ten years (1985-95).

They Said It: “My job as point guard is easy – just feed the ball inside to Ollie Johnson and let him go score us some points,. If I get him the ball anywhere near the paint he is going to score for sure,” USF guard Jim Brovelli.