No Place I'd Rather Be …

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On today’s episode we are lucky enough to have Phil Johnson and John Wiehoff. Two seminal figures in SJU basketball history during what was one of the most sustained stretches of on-court success seen in Collegeville. From 1976 to 1988 the Johnnies appeared in the national tournament 10 of those 12 years. Wiehoff and Johnson were right in the middle of that run through the ‘80s. Johnson was All-MIAC and All-Region (both first team) in ‘85-’86 and ‘86-’87, with an MVP-caliber year in ‘85-’86, which is not hyperbole since he was voted MIAC Most Valuable Player for that year. Wiehoff also was twice an All-MIAC selection in ‘82-’83 and ‘83-’84 and earned Academic All-American honors in 1983.
So ... it became clear pretty quickly that what was originally going to be one episode needed to be two. Not only that, but the conversation flowed so smoothly that we’re trying something new by presenting this conversation to you as it went down. Start to finish. Beginning to middle today. Middle to end next week. All with a few touches of color along the way from a major player in the majority of what follows – our very own Tom Connell. So here they are – Phil Johnson, John Wiehoff and Coach Smith with hosts Tom Connell and John Russett.

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This season of "No Place I'd Rather Be ..." is sponsored by the Sexton Family Foundation, helping usher in the next generation of leaders. And Sixth Man Enterprises, creating a state of readiness. Thank you for making this project possible.

Thank you to Phil Johnson and John Wiehoff for being so gracious and willing to share their stories. And thank you to Johnnie alum Steve Cummings ‘83, at Nova Consulting, for the use of their beautiful facilities.

Are you a member of the Johnnie Basketball Alumni Association? You should be! Sign up right now to join the Johnnie Basketball Nation and connect with teammates and friends, flip through old photos, even listen to episodes of the podcast. Founded and managed by SJU basketball alumni and friends, the Johnnie Basketball Alumni Association exists to foster the already formidable Johnnie Basketball Nation. Go to johnniebasketballalumni.org to see what it's all about.

Thank you as always to Coach Jim Smith, whose new book with former player '69 grad Paul Bernabei chronicling the history of 123 seasons of basketball in Collegeville is available for purchase through the Saint John’s University Bookstore. Proceeds from the book are donated to the Jim Smith Endowment Basketball Leadership Program Fund to enhance and strengthen the SJU basketball experience. Get yourself a copy today.

Take a look through the record books, learn more about the success-filled history of Johnnie basketball, watch live games and stay up-to-date on all Johnnies sports action at gojohnnies.com.

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Hello and welcome back! Today, there’s a bit of a different bent in store as we shift the perspective from the court to carpet row as we welcome ‘71 grad Mike Dady, who played for coach smith during his student days and served as Board of Regents chair from 1992-1995 as well as President of the Alumni Association and is the founding partner of Dady and Gardner PA, along with Fr. Roman Paur, who received both an undergrad and masters of divinity from Saint John's, was ordained in 1966, completed graduate degrees in clinical and counseling psychology and has filled numerous roles at the university including a faculty resident, psychology professor, vice president of Student Affairs, residential programs director, as well as the director and founder of the Human Resource Center among other roles. Still feels like I sold these guys a little short, but that’s what the rest of the episode is for. So without further ado ... here’s Mike Dady and Fr. Roman Paur with Coach Smith, Tom Connell and John Russett.
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Thanks to Fr. Roman Paur and Mike Dady for sharing their stories with the guys!
Support for benchwarmers media productions provided by:

Sixth Man Enterprises

The Sexton Family Foundation

Bobbi and John Augustine

Maggie and Marty McCaslin

Steve Cummings at Nova Group

Matt Johnson

Rick DesLauriers

Sue and Jim Bowe

John Schultz

Thank you to everyone who helps make our projects possible.

Are you a member of the Johnnie Basketball Alumni Association? You should be! Sign up right now to join the Johnnie Basketball Nation and connect with teammates and friends, flip through old photos, even listen to episodes of the podcast. Founded and managed by SJU basketball alumni and friends, the Johnnie Basketball Alumni Association exists to foster the already formidable Johnnie Basketball Nation. Go to johnniebasketballalumni.org to see what it's all about.
We have a new website! Check it out here: benchwarmersmedia.org
Take a look through the record books, watch live games and stay up-to-date on all Johnnies sports action at gojohnnies.com.
"No Place I’d Rather Be" is a Benchwarmers Media production in association with Nine Pines Podcasts.

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Frank Wachlarowicz rewrote the record books at St. John's, the MIAC and the state during his four years as a starter for Coach Smith, leaving Collegeville with the most points ever by a collegiate basketball player in the state of Minnesota. But his legacy will always be much more than numbers on a stat sheet. Today, on the season one finale of No Place I'd Rather Be, we try to stay out of your way and let the two-time All-American speak for himself. In the first of two episodes dedicated to the man from Little Falls, we focus mostly on what led him to St. John's, his early days on campus and some of his high school playing days.

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Tim McNamara, class of '77, worked closely with Coach Smith for four years. He saw it all while in his role as team manager and remembers it all as well. An incredible wealth of information on Johnnie basketball in general and a bonafide expert on the happenings during his tenure, Tim Mac indulges us with just some of those stories and gives a little insight into the behind-the-scenes of the program for today's Fast Break episode.

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With the regular season wrapped up and only two episodes left in season one, we get right to it for today's episode. The Johnnies vs. the Tommies. We hear from Dave Johnson, class of '69, Vic Moore, class of '72, and Steve Ward, class of '75 about some of the glory days of the rivalry. We get three first-hand accounts of an event from March 1972 that stands as potentially the most outrageous from a rivalry that spanned decades.