William Perigo
Encyclopedia
William J. "Bill" Perigo (September 17, 1911 – February 7, 1990) was an American
basketball
player and coach. He played college basketball for Western Michigan University
from 1931 to 1934 and professional basketball for the Indianapolis Kautskys from 1934 to 1936. Perigo also worked as a basketball coach for more than 25 years. He was the basketball coach at Benton Harbor High School
for 13 years and led the team to the Michigan Class A state championship in 1941. He was the head basketball coach at Western Michigan University
(1949–1952) and the University of Michigan
(1952–1960). In 1983, he was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.
in 1911. His father, Alonzo Lon Perigo, was a farmer in Boone County, Indiana
. Perigo graduated from Delphi High School in Indiana in 1930. He twice helped lead Delphi to the Indiana state finals and was "considered the greatest jumping center of his era." He enrolled at Western Michigan University
and graduated in 1934. He played three years of varsity basketball at Western Michigan, during which time Western Michigan compiled a 40–13 record.
, had a 15-game winning streak.
(two years) and Benton Harbor, Michigan
(13 years) before moving to the collegiate level. His Benton Harbor teams won 13 Southwest Conference titles and the Michigan Class A basketball championship in 1941.
Perigo became a friend of John Wooden
when the two played professional basketball together for the Kautskys. When Perigo coached high school basketball at Benton Harbor, Wooden lived a short distance away in South Bend, Indiana
. During those years, Wooden and his wife often drove to Benton Harbor for Sunday dinners with the Perigos. Wooden also visited practice sessions and offered coaching tips to Perigo.
Perigo was the head basketball coach at Western Michigan University
(1949–1952) and the University of Michigan
(1952–1960). He compiled a 41–27 (.603) in three years at Western Michigan. In July 1952, he was hired by the University of Michigan
as its head basketball coach. In eight years as the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines men's basketball
team, Perigo compiled a 78–100 (.438) record. His record in Big Ten Conference games while at Michigan was 38–78. Perigo's best season at Michigan came with the 1958–59 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team
, captained by M. C. Burton, Jr., and compiling a 15–7 (.682) record. Perrigo resigned as Michigan's head basketball coach in May 1960 after the 1959–60 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team finished with a 1-13 record against Big Ten Conference opponents. Perigo told the press at the time that he planned to obtain a master's degree and pursue a career in teaching or athletic administration.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player and coach. He played college basketball for Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....
from 1931 to 1934 and professional basketball for the Indianapolis Kautskys from 1934 to 1936. Perigo also worked as a basketball coach for more than 25 years. He was the basketball coach at Benton Harbor High School
Benton Harbor High School
Benton Harbor High School is a high school in Benton Harbor, Michigan, United States, owned and operated by Benton Harbor Area Schools.The school is made up of a number of "learning communities":*Communication, Arts & Business Academy...
for 13 years and led the team to the Michigan Class A state championship in 1941. He was the head basketball coach at Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....
(1949–1952) and the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
(1952–1960). In 1983, he was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.
Early years and college basketball
Perigo was born in Lebanon, IndianaLebanon, Indiana
Lebanon is a city in and the county seat of Boone County, Indiana, United States. The population was 15,792 at the 2010 census. The city was named Lebanon because a stand of hickory trees on the site reminded one of the town's commissioners of the Biblical cedars of Lebanon...
in 1911. His father, Alonzo Lon Perigo, was a farmer in Boone County, Indiana
Boone County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 46,107 people, 17,081 households, and 12,810 families residing in the county. The population density was 109 people per square mile . There were 17,929 housing units at an average density of 42 per square mile...
. Perigo graduated from Delphi High School in Indiana in 1930. He twice helped lead Delphi to the Indiana state finals and was "considered the greatest jumping center of his era." He enrolled at Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....
and graduated in 1934. He played three years of varsity basketball at Western Michigan, during which time Western Michigan compiled a 40–13 record.
Professional basketball
From 1933 to 1935, Perigo played professional basketball for the Indianapolis Kautskys. During the 1934–35 season, the Kautskys, featuring Perigo and John WoodenJohn Wooden
John Robert Wooden was an American basketball player and coach. Nicknamed the "Wizard of Westwood", he won ten NCAA national championships in a 12-year period — seven in a row — as head coach at UCLA, an unprecedented feat. Within this period, his teams won a record 88 consecutive games...
, had a 15-game winning streak.
Coaching career
Perigo was a basketball coach for more than 25 years at the high school and collegiate levels. He coached high school basketball in Markleville, IndianaMarkleville, Indiana
Markleville is a town in Adams Township, Madison County, Indiana, United States. It is part of the Anderson, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area...
(two years) and Benton Harbor, Michigan
Benton Harbor, Michigan
Benton Harbor is a city in Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan which is located west of Kalamazoo. The population was 10,038 at the 2010 census. It is the lesser populated of the two principal cities included in the Niles-Benton Harbor, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a...
(13 years) before moving to the collegiate level. His Benton Harbor teams won 13 Southwest Conference titles and the Michigan Class A basketball championship in 1941.
Perigo became a friend of John Wooden
John Wooden
John Robert Wooden was an American basketball player and coach. Nicknamed the "Wizard of Westwood", he won ten NCAA national championships in a 12-year period — seven in a row — as head coach at UCLA, an unprecedented feat. Within this period, his teams won a record 88 consecutive games...
when the two played professional basketball together for the Kautskys. When Perigo coached high school basketball at Benton Harbor, Wooden lived a short distance away in South Bend, Indiana
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
. During those years, Wooden and his wife often drove to Benton Harbor for Sunday dinners with the Perigos. Wooden also visited practice sessions and offered coaching tips to Perigo.
Perigo was the head basketball coach at Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....
(1949–1952) and the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
(1952–1960). He compiled a 41–27 (.603) in three years at Western Michigan. In July 1952, he was hired by the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
as its head basketball coach. In eight years as the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines men's basketball
Michigan Wolverines men's basketball
The Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing the University of Michigan. The school competes in the Big Ten Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association . The Wolverines play home basketball games at the...
team, Perigo compiled a 78–100 (.438) record. His record in Big Ten Conference games while at Michigan was 38–78. Perigo's best season at Michigan came with the 1958–59 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team
1958–59 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team
The 1958–59 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team represented the University of Michigan in intercollegiate college basketball during the 1958–59 season. The team played its home games at Fielding H. Yost Field House on the school's campus in...
, captained by M. C. Burton, Jr., and compiling a 15–7 (.682) record. Perrigo resigned as Michigan's head basketball coach in May 1960 after the 1959–60 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team finished with a 1-13 record against Big Ten Conference opponents. Perigo told the press at the time that he planned to obtain a master's degree and pursue a career in teaching or athletic administration.