No Place I'd Rather Be …

Today, we venture into new territory as we welcome Steve Fritz ... yes, that Steve Fritz ... the one who played at St. Thomas University from 1967-71 ... joined the coaching staff under Tom Feely ... took over the program in 1980 ... won an NCAA Division III championship in his final season as head coach in 2011 after 40 seasons on the bench ... 31 of those as head coach ... during that tenure he had a decorated playing career and his 1,944 career points ... a school record at the time and remains second in school history. His 915 career rebounds is still third all-time in school history. Between his playing and coaching career he was a part of Tommie basketball for 1,199 consecutive games. His teams reached the NCAA tourney 12 times and Fritz was named MIAC coach of the year 14 times ... as well as ending his career with more than two decades as athletic director. And if you’re still with us after all that effusive praise for an individual at least partially responsible for much consternation on the part of Johnnie fans over four and a half decades I know you’re going to love this episode. A conversation between two good friends who happen to be two of the most successful coaches in the history of Minnesota basketball.
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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 Steve Fritz, for his willingness to entrust us with his 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.

St. John's University seniors Brandon Adelman, J.T. Gaffney and Connor Schwob sit down with the guys this week to talk continue with the theme of new offense and scoring a bunch as well what to do over the holiday break and plans for after graduation.
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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 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.

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.

Frank Wachlarowicz ... John Patterson ... Dan Smith ... Ted Nowak ... Pat McKenzie ... Paul Wotta ... and John Harvey ... never before or since has a single class contributed to more on-court success than that of the class of '79. It’s the stuff of legends. Running the table in the conference all the way to 27-straight wins. Frank breaking the all-time scoring record during what has been hailed by those in attendance as one of the greatest college basketball games ever played ... an overtime win over Mankato State to send the victorious Johnnies to the national tournament in Kansas City back-to-back years. And we’ll get there. Just not today, because what makes the story so compelling about the seven players from the class of '79 who touched greatness goes well beyond what they achieved their final season together. So first, we get at a little of the origin story of one the most dominant teams in Minnesota basketball history as Dan Smith, Paul Wotta, Ted Nowak and Frank Wachlarowicz join Coach Smith alongside 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 Frank Wachlarowicz, Dan Smith, Ted Nowak and Paul Wotta for hanging out and telling some stories. Special thank you to alum Joe Hoesly '77 for making the Wayzata Country Club boardroom available to help make this roundtable discussion possible. And, of course, thank you to Johnnie alum Steve Cummings ‘83, at Nova Consulting, for the use of their beautiful facilities.
Thank you 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.

Welcome everyone to season two of No Place I'd Rather Be ... we kick things off today as we debut a new segment "On the Court" with St. John's University head basketball coach Pat McKenzie as he breaks things down after the first four games of the season. Check back each Wednesday for a new episode featuring Coach McKenzie, assistant coaches and players.