Sam Cozen (1976) - Janet E. and Barry C. Burkholder Athletics Hall of Fame

Sam Cozen

Induction:
1976

Samuel Cozen guided Drexel’s men’s basketball team for 16 years, helping to establish the program before the Dragons made the leap to NCAA Div. I status in 1970. Cozen is the longest-tenured and was the winningest coach in the program’s history upon retirement, with 213 victories during an era when college basketball teams rarely played 20 games in a season.

Cozen led Drexel to 11 Middle Athletic Conference championships during his 16 years and his teams also made four NCAA tournament appearances during his tenure. Cozen coached five players to hall-of-fame careers including Bob Buckley, Dan Promislo, Bobby Morgan, Mike McCurdy and Ronald Kleppinger. Cozen, who was an outstanding player in his own right, played at South Philadelphia High and in college at Temple University. He coached at Overbrook High during the 1940's and the 1950’s. For one season, he coached NBA Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain. In 1952, the same year Chamberlain arrived at Overbrook, Cozen took over at Drexel while still coaching at Overbrook and began one of the best runs in Drexel history.

Sam Cozen Era of Champions