Monte Corwin Towe (born September 27, 1953) is an American
basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...
coach and retired basketball player.
He was a starting
point guard
The point guard (PG), also called the one or the point, is one of the five Basketball positions, positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position. Point guards are expected to run t ...
on the
1973–74 North Carolina State Wolfpack men's basketball team which won the
NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship
The NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, branded as NCAA March Madness and commonly called March Madness, is a single-elimination tournament played each spring in the United States, currently featuring 68 college basketball teams from ...
.
At five feet seven inches, Towe is also one of the
ten shortest players in NBA history.
Early life
Towe was born in
Marion, Indiana
Marion is a city in Grant County, Indiana, United States. The population was 29,948 as of the 2010 United States Census. The city is the county seat of Grant County. It is named for Francis Marion, a brigadier general from South Carolina in the ...
.
His hometown is
Converse, Indiana
Converse is a town in Richland Township, Grant County and Jackson Township, Miami County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 1,265 at the 2010 census.
History
Converse was originally called Xenia, and under the latter name was la ...
.
Towe attended
Oak Hill High School in Converse, graduating in 1971.
There, he played golf, shooting in the eighties.
He also starred on the basketball team, baseball team, and football team—earning All-Area honors for the latter two.
As a quarterback, he led the Oak Hill football team to two undefeated seasons, for a total of eighteen consecutive victories.
He attended
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University (NC State) is a public land-grant research university in Raleigh, North Carolina. Founded in 1887 and part of the University of North Carolina system, it is the largest university in the Carolinas. The universit ...
, graduating with a B.A. in 1975.
At NC State, he played varsity basketball from 1972 through 1975 and varsity baseball from 1972 through 1974. His roommate was
Tommy Burleson
Tom Loren Burleson (born February 24, 1952) is an American former professional basketball player. A 7′2″ center, Burleson played for North Carolina State University's 1974 NCAA national championship team.
Early life
Burleson is a native o ...
.
College basketball
When he first arrived on campus at North Carolina State University to play varsity basketball, Towe was considered "a novelty, or another publicity gimmick, much like a midget in
Barnum & Bailey's" because of his the five foot seven inch (1.7 m) height.
At the time, Towe said, "I've never thought a small man couldn't play sports. I just figure what I lack physically I can make up for mentally—with mental toughness."
Towe played much of his sophomore season with a broken wrist and a broken nose.
Towe, along with
David Thompson, is credited with inventing the long pass or
alley-oop
An alley-oop in basketball is an offensive play in which one player throws the ball near the basket to a teammate who jumps, catches the ball in mid-air and dunks or lays it in before touching the ground.
The alley-oop combines elements of team ...
. Because dunking was illegal at the time, Towe would throw the basketball to Thompson while he was in the air and Thompson would gently drop the ball in the basket.
As a result, the
UPI
United Press International (UPI) is an American international news agency whose newswires, photo, news film, and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations for most of the 20th c ...
selected Towe for its small-American team after his sophomore year.
In his junior year, Towe was the starting point guard on
1973–74 NC State Wolfpack men's basketball team
The 1973–74 North Carolina State Wolfpack men's basketball team represented North Carolina State University during the 1973-74 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Wolfpack played their home games at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, Nort ...
which won the 1974
NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship
The NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, branded as NCAA March Madness and commonly called March Madness, is a single-elimination tournament played each spring in the United States, currently featuring 68 college basketball teams from ...
.
He was the team's assist leader with five or more assists in ten games.
He had eleven assists in the game against
Furman University
Furman University is a private liberal arts university in Greenville, South Carolina. Founded in 1826 and named for the clergyman Richard Furman, Furman University is the oldest private institution of higher learning in South Carolina. It became ...
.
Towe was recognized by his selection for the All-ACC team and the all-NCAA Finals team.
His senior year, Towe received the 1975
Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award
The Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award was an annual college basketball award in the United States intended to honor shorter-than-average players who excelled on the court despite their size. The award, named in honor of James Naismith's daughter-in-la ...
as the year's best college player under tall.
In 2016, the 1974 Men's Basketball Team was inducted into the NC State Athletic Hall of Fame.
College baseball
At NC State, Towe also played varsity baseball, covering second base for his first five games in the spring of 1972.
However, he got a late start to the season because he was still playing basketball.
Coach
Sam Esposito
Samuel Esposito (December 15, 1931 – July 9, 2018) was an American professional baseball third baseman and shortstop. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 10 seasons on the Chicago White Sox (1952, 1955–1963) and Kansas City Athletics ...
said, "He came in cold and has been playing second base like he's been here all his life. He's alert, aggressive, and just does things excessively well. Monte's something else, something we've been needing on this team. He keeps us alive, he's a winner and he'll be my second baseman the rest of the year. I'd bet anybody right now that he'll be starting in basketball next year too."
True to his word, Esposito played Towe for the remaining games of the season and he helped the team win seven of its remaining eight games.
His sophomore year, Towe was one of the featured players in the team's media guide
However, his broken wrist was expected to hamper a starting position.
With Towe, NC State won the
1973 Atlantic Coast Conference baseball tournament. In his junior year, Towe was also a member of the baseball team which won
1974 Atlantic Coast Conference baseball tournament.
Pro basketball career
Towe was drafted by the
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are an American professional basketball team based in Denver. The Nuggets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference Northwest Division. The team was founded as the D ...
in the third round of the 1975
ABA Draft The American Basketball Association draft was held from 1967 to 1975.
First overall picks
Note: 1974 ABA College Draft, not 1974 ABA Draft of NBA Players
Further reading
*{{cite book, last=Bradley, first=Robert D., title=The Basketball Draft Fac ...
and by the
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta. The Hawks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern Conference Southeast Division (NBA), Sou ...
in the fourth round (3rd pick, 57th overall) of the
1975 NBA Draft
The 1975 NBA draft was the 29th annual draft of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The draft was held on May 29, 1975, before the 1975–76 season. In this draft, 18 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players a ...
. Towe joined NC State teammate
David Thompson in signing with Denver under coach
Larry Brown on June 17, 1975.
He played for the Nuggets 1976, the final year of the
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association (ABA) was a major men's professional basketball league from 1967 to 1976. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger, American Basketball Association–National Basketball Association merger in 1976, ...
, and in the 1976–1977 season when Denver joined the National Basketball Association.
He played in the
1976 ABA All-Star Game when the game format was Denver vs. All-Stars.
The Denver Nuggets waived Towe in September 29,1977.
Coaching career
After his retirement as a player, Towe returned to NC State and became an assistant under his former college coach,
Norm Sloan
Norman Leslie Sloan Jr. (June 25, 1926 – December 9, 2003) was an American college basketball player and coach. Sloan was a native of Indiana and played college basketball and football at North Carolina State University. He began a long career a ...
, from 1978 to 1980.
He then followed Sloan to the
University of Florida
The University of Florida (Florida or UF) is a public land-grant research university in Gainesville, Florida. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida, traces its origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its ...
from 1980 to 1989.
In 1990, Towe did television analyst work for the
Charlotte Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets are an American professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Hornets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Southeast Division, and pla ...
.
He coached professional teams associated with the
Global Basketball Association
The Global Basketball Association (GBA) was a professional basketball minor league based in the United States. The majority of the league's franchises were based in the Southern United States, with the remaining teams located in the Midwest. The le ...
in the 1990s, including being the head coach of the
Raleigh Bullfrogs
The Raleigh Bullfrogs were a Global Basketball Association franchise for only one season (1991–92). The Bullfrogs played their home games at Dorton Arena at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds. Monte Towe from NC State University was their head ...
from 1991 to 1992 and head coach of the
Fayetteville Flyers
The Global Basketball Association (GBA) was a professional basketball minor league based in the United States. The majority of the league's franchises were based in the Southern United States, with the remaining teams located in the Midwest. The ...
from 1992 to 1993.
In 1993, he was coach of the
Marinos B.B.C.
Marinos B.B.C., also referred to as Marinos de Anzoátegui, is a professional basketball club based in the port city of Puerto la Cruz, located in the Venezuelan Anzoátegui State. The team currently plays in Venezuela's Liga Profesional de Balonc ...
in
Venezuela
Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...
, leading them to the Venezuelan Professional League Championship.
He returned to the United States and was an assistant for the
Sioux Falls Skyforce
The Sioux Falls Skyforce are an American professional basketball team of the NBA G League based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and are affiliated with the Miami Heat. The team plays their home games in the Sanford Pentagon, a place they have call ...
of the
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association (CBA) (originally known as the Eastern Pennsylvania Basketball League, and later as the Eastern Professional Basketball League and the Eastern Basketball Association) was a men's professional basketball m ...
under head coach
Flip Saunders
Philip Daniel "Flip" Saunders (February 23, 1955 – October 25, 2015) was an American basketball player and coach. During his career, he coached the La Crosse Catbirds, Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons, and Washington Wizards.
High schoo ...
from 1994 to 1995.
From 1995 to 1996, he was the head coach and athletic director at
Chipola College
Chipola College is a public college in Marianna, Florida. It is part of the Florida College System.
History
The school was founded in 1947 as Chipola Junior College; its name was changed in 2003 after the college developed several bachelor's ...
, a junior college in Florida.
Next, he was an assistant coach at the
University of North Carolina at Asheville
The University of North Carolina Asheville (UNC Asheville, UNCA, or simply Asheville) is a public liberal arts university in Asheville, North Carolina, United States. UNC Asheville is the designated liberal arts institution in the University of N ...
from 1996 to 1999 under former NC State assistant coach
Eddie Biedenbach
Edward Joseph Biedenbach (born August 12, 1945) is an American former basketball player and college basketball coach.
Playing career
Born in Pittsburgh, Biedenbach attended Edgewood High School in nearby Edgewood. He played collegiately for the ...
.
He was also head coach of the
Santa Fe Community College
Santa Fe Community College (SFCC) is a public community college in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It has an undergraduate population of about 4,027 students, as well as approximately 4,706 contract training and continuing education students. The college ...
for two years, from 1999 through 2001.
In 2001, Towe became the head basketball coach at the
University of New Orleans
The University of New Orleans (UNO) is a public research university in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is a member of the University of Louisiana System and the Urban 13 association. It is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High rese ...
.
He compiled a 70–78 record over five seasons.
In May 2006, he left the University of New Orleans to become associate head coach at North Carolina State under head coach and former NC State teammate of Towe's
Sidney Lowe
Sidney Rochell Lowe (born January 21, 1960) is an American former basketball player and coach. He is currently an assistant coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Lowe played college basketball and served ...
.
Although NC State went to two
National Invitation Tournaments under Lowe and Towe, the team did not go to the NCAA tournament in five seasons.
Lowe, Towe and the other coaching staff were let go in 2011.
On April 14, 2011, he was named an assistant coach at
Middle Tennessee State University
Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU or MT) is a public university in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Founded in 1911 as a normal school, the university consists of eight undergraduate colleges as well as a college of graduate studies, together off ...
under
Kermit Davis
John Kermit Davis Jr. (born December 14, 1959) is an American college basketball coach for the Ole Miss Rebels men's basketball, Ole Miss Rebels. Davis was previously the head coach at Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders men's basketball, Middle Tennes ...
, staying there through 2014.
In 2017, Towe became the head coach at
Oak Hall School.
Awards and honors
* NC State Athletic Hall of Fame as part of the 1974 Men's Basketball Team, 2016
*
Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame
The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame is a sports museum and hall of fame in New Castle, Indiana. While it honors men and women associated with high school, college, and professional basketball in Indiana, an emphasis is placed on the athlete's high ...
, 2002
*
Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award
The Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award was an annual college basketball award in the United States intended to honor shorter-than-average players who excelled on the court despite their size. The award, named in honor of James Naismith's daughter-in-la ...
, 1975
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Towe, Monte
1953 births
Living people
American men's basketball coaches
American men's basketball players
Atlanta Hawks draft picks
Basketball coaches from Indiana
Basketball players from Indiana
Denver Nuggets players
Florida Gators men's basketball coaches
Junior college men's basketball coaches in the United States
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders men's basketball coaches
NC State Wolfpack baseball players
NC State Wolfpack men's basketball coaches
NC State Wolfpack men's basketball players
New Orleans Privateers men's basketball coaches
People from Marion, Indiana
Point guards
Sioux Falls Skyforce coaches
UNC Asheville Bulldogs men's basketball coaches