In Golden Age, MIT Basketball Reflects on Past

The MIT men’s basketball program is in a period of unprecedented success. Over the past three seasons, the Engineers have won two NEWMAC conference championships, set a single-season record for wins, advanced to the NCAA tournament Final Four, and received a pre-season number one ranking for the first time.

Reaching that kind of success requires a strong foundation. On Saturday, April 13, 2013, the current Engineers honored those who took the court before them, handing out the program’s first lifetime achievement awards. The awards were given to MIT alumni who have made a major impact on the men’s basketball program, both as students and post-graduation.

Ted Heuchling ’46, SM ’48 served as a captain during his undergraduate years and as coach from 1948 through 1950. Alongside his wife Patsy, he is a frequent attendee at MIT games and an important figure in the Institute’s Basketball Endowment Fund. Off the court, Heuchling served MIT as the Class of ’46 president, Annual Fund Board member, Reunion Committee chairman, and Class Gift chairman. He is an Alumni Association’s Bronze Beaver Award recipient, the highest honor the Association can bestow upon any alumni volunteer.

Arguably MIT’s biggest fan, Mike Nacey ’52 served as team captain in 1951-52 and is a steady presence at most Engineers games. Actively involved in the endowment fund, Nacey was vice president of the Class of 1952 and received a doctorate from Boston College Law School.

Arnie Singal SM ’63 began coaching the freshman team coach while he was a grad student and stayed on until 1975. He coached MIT’s most-successful freshman team in 1963-64 and is now coach at Buckingham, Brown, and Nichols. In 2007, he coached the U.S. high school entry in the Pan-American Maccabi/USA Games.

The dinner also recognize two more alumni related accomplishments: head coach Larry Anderson will be named an honorary member of the MIT Alumni Association and former player Mead Wyman ’62 will receive the Association’s Bronze Beaver Award. Anderson and Wyman will be recognized at the Technology Day Luncheon and the Alumni Leadership Conference, respectively.

Check the MIT basketball page on the DAPER site for more information on the men’s basketball program, including seniors Will Tashman and Mitchell Kates being named basketball All Americans.