(Photo By Flickr User yochillum)
Bradley University’s most winning-est coach, Charles “Ozzie” Orsborn, died Sunday morning at his home in Naples, FL.
Bradley University President Gary Roberts expressed his condolences to the family and the campus community via email on Monday.
According to naplesnews.com, Florida Gulf Coast University athletic director Ken Kavanagh (Bradley AD from 1996-2009), called Orsborn an “icon.” During his tenure at Bradley, Kavanagh changed the name of the Braves’ most prestigious student-athlete honor to the Charles Orsborn Award.
Orsborn was a four-sport letterwinner at Bradley (baseball, basketball, football, track and field) and was a member of the Braves’ Famous Five basketball team that played in the first two National Invitation Tournaments in 1938 and 1939, and earned an NCAA tournament berth in 1939.
The New York Yankees signed him upon graduation and Orsborn played a minor league season before being drafted by the military in 1941. Entering as a private during World War II, Orsborn spent five years in the regular Air Force and retired in the reserves as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Orsborn became Bradley’s coach in 1956 and in nine seasons put together a 194-56 record. The Braves won three NIT titles (1957, 1960, 1964) and he was named the Missouri Valley Coach of the Year in 1960 and 1962. Bradley had six finishes in the Associated Press Top 20, four of them in the top 10. The Braves were twice ranked second.
He notched his first 100 wins in 120 games. That still ties him for sixth in NCAA Division I history for fewest games to reach 100 wins. In 2002, Orsborn was named the men’s basketball Coach of the Century during Bradley’s celebration of 100 years of athletics.
After coaching, Orsborn served as Bradley University’s athletic director from 1965-1978.
Along with wife Janet, his sons Charles Jr. and James also preceded Orsborn in death. He is survived by daughter Carolyn.
NIT, Missouri Valley Conference, and Greater Peoria (Illinois) Sports Star Hall of Famer, Charles “Ozzie” Orsborn was 99.
