Paul Nowak
Encyclopedia
Paul Nowak was an American
basketball player. He was a three-time All-American
at Notre Dame
and was an early professional in the National Basketball League
.
Nowak, a center, played at South Bend Central High School and Notre Dame. He played for Hall of Fame coach George Keogan
and with fellow All-American teammate John Moir
and future coaches Ray Meyer
and George Ireland
. The squad went 22-2-1 in 1936 and was later named national champions by the Helms Athletic Foundation
.
After his collegiate career, Nowak played professionally for the Akron Non-Skids
with former Notre Dame teammate John Moir, leading the team to two National Basketball League
titles in 1939 and 1940. Nowak later played for the Toledo
Jim Whites Chevrolets, Rochester Royals
, and Philadelphia Sphas
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
basketball player. He was a three-time All-American
NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
The NCAA Men's Basketball All-American teams are honorary teams made up of those NCAA basketball players voted the best in the country by a variety of organizations.-History:...
at Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana, United States. The program competes in the Big East Conference of NCAA Division I. The school holds two national championships in...
and was an early professional in the National Basketball League
National Basketball League (United States)
Founded in 1937, the National Basketball League, often abbreviated to NBL, was a professional men's basketball league in the United States. The league would later merge with the Basketball Association of America to form the National Basketball Association in 1949.- League history :The...
.
Nowak, a center, played at South Bend Central High School and Notre Dame. He played for Hall of Fame coach George Keogan
George Keogan
George E. Keogan was an American collegiate basketball coach, most known for coaching University of Notre Dame from 1923 to 1943. Keogan never had a losing season in his 20 years at Notre Dame....
and with fellow All-American teammate John Moir
John Moir
John Moir was a professional basketball player between 1938 and 1946 in the United States' National Basketball League.-Early life:...
and future coaches Ray Meyer
Ray Meyer
Raymond Joseph Meyer was an American men's collegiate basketball coach from Chicago, Illinois. He was well-known for coaching at DePaul University from 1942 to 1984, compiling a 724–354 record...
and George Ireland
George Ireland
George Ireland was an American basketball coach who led Loyola University Chicago to the 1963 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship.-Background:...
. The squad went 22-2-1 in 1936 and was later named national champions by the Helms Athletic Foundation
Helms Athletic Foundation
The Helms Athletic Foundation was an athletic foundation based in Los Angeles, founded in 1936 by Bill Schroeder and Paul Helms. It put together a panel of experts to select National Champion teams and make All-America team selections in a number of college sports including football and basketball...
.
After his collegiate career, Nowak played professionally for the Akron Non-Skids
Akron Wingfoots
The Akron Wingfoots are one of the oldest basketball teams in the United States. They were founded in 1918 by the workers at the Goodyear Tire Company in Akron, Ohio...
with former Notre Dame teammate John Moir, leading the team to two National Basketball League
National Basketball League (United States)
Founded in 1937, the National Basketball League, often abbreviated to NBL, was a professional men's basketball league in the United States. The league would later merge with the Basketball Association of America to form the National Basketball Association in 1949.- League history :The...
titles in 1939 and 1940. Nowak later played for the Toledo
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
Jim Whites Chevrolets, Rochester Royals
Rochester Royals
The franchise that would become the Sacramento Kings initially started in the city of Rochester, New York, as the Rochester Royals of the National Basketball League....
, and Philadelphia Sphas
Philadelphia Sphas
The Philadelphia Sphas, also written SPHAs and SPHAS, were a team that competed in the Eastern Basketball League and then the American Basketball League 1925-55. They played their home games in social halls and, from 1938, in the ballroom of the Broadwood Hotel...
.