Friar Legend Johnny Egan Passes Away at 83

Friar great Johnny Egan (Class of 1961) passed away earlier this week at the age of 83. Jonathan Feigen, of the Houston Chronicle, reported that Egan died after sustaining head injuries following a fall on May 8.

Egan was an All-American at PC who led the Friars to three straight NIT appearances, culminating in PC's first ever NIT Championship in 1961.

Egan was the first high school All American that head coach Joe Mullaney brought to Providence, having been named a Parade All American during his senior season at Weaver High School in Hartford, CT.  At the time, Bob Cousy said that Egan was the greatest high school player he had ever seen.

During his sophomore year with the Friars, Egan combined with Lenny Wilkens to form one of the greatest backcourts in PC history. They went on to lead the Friars to their first ever NIT appearance, with Egan averaging nearly 21 points per game.

Unfortunately, Egan suffered a significant knee injury and was never the same player, as corrective knee surgery was almost unheard of back in those days. Prior to his knee injury, Egan was an incredible athlete. He was able to dunk the basketball taking only one step to the basket, while standing only 5'11. 

Despite the injury, he went on to lead Providence, along with Wilkens, to the NIT Championship game his junior year. 

During his senior season, with Wilkens off to the NBA, Egan combined to form another all-time PC backcourt with incoming sophomore Vinny Ernst. They went on to defeat St. Louis in the NIT finals to win Providence’s first-ever NIT Championship. During a historic semifinal overtime matchup against Holy Cross, Egan and Ernst combined for all 15 overtime points in the PC victory.

In the 1961 NBA Draft Egan was selected 12th overall by the Detroit Pistons. He went on to play the next 11 years in the NBA for six different teams. 

At 5'11 he was one of the shortest players in the NBA during his career. To compensate Egan developed a drop shot (one of the first players to use what today is known as a floater) to score over taller players. Despite playing in an era with legendary shot blocking centers like Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and Nate Thurmond, Egan rarely, if ever, had his shot blocked. 

After his career was over, Egan spent the next four years as the head coach of the Houston Rockets. He settled in Houston after his career was over and remained there until his passing. 

Egan will be missed by all Friar fans who remember him as a player, or heard the stories about Providence’s early glory days.