University of Richmond Athletics
Former Spiders Head Coach Lou Goetz Dies at 73
01/19/2021 | Men's Basketball
RICHMOND, Va. -- Lou Goetz, former head coach of Spiders men's basketball team, died Tuesday at the age of 73.
Goetz was named the seventh head coach in program history in 1978, succeeding Carl Slone. He came to Richmond following three seasons as an assistant coach at Duke University.
Goetz took over a Spiders team coming off a 4-22 season, the lowest winning percentage in school history. In his first season on the sidelines, Goetz and team captain Mike Perry, who was only a sophomore, led Richmond to a 10-16 record. Prior to the 1979-80 season, the Spiders joined the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) following three seasons as an independent. Goetz and the Spiders finished the season at 13-14, including a winning record in ECAC play at 4-3. In 1980-81, Richmond finished 15-14 to snap a streak of three straight losing seasons. Goetz resigned following the season to spend more time with his family.
Goetz's teams were known for their frantic pace and ability to score quickly. The 1979-80 team remains the last Spiders team to score more than 80 points per game, averaging 82.9 points. On December 3, 1979, Goetz and the Spiders beat Bluefield College 132-79, setting a school record for points in a game that stands to this day. Goetz's 1980-81 team still holds the school record for field goal percentage in a season at 53.5.
Goetz, a New Jersey native, played collegiately at Rutgers from 1966 to 1969.
Following Goetz's resignation, he was replaced by one of the assistants on his staff, Dick Tarrant. Tarrant would go on to compile a 239-126 record in 12 seasons with the Spiders, leading Richmond to five NCAA Tournaments and the 1988 Sweet 16.
Goetz was named the seventh head coach in program history in 1978, succeeding Carl Slone. He came to Richmond following three seasons as an assistant coach at Duke University.
Goetz took over a Spiders team coming off a 4-22 season, the lowest winning percentage in school history. In his first season on the sidelines, Goetz and team captain Mike Perry, who was only a sophomore, led Richmond to a 10-16 record. Prior to the 1979-80 season, the Spiders joined the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) following three seasons as an independent. Goetz and the Spiders finished the season at 13-14, including a winning record in ECAC play at 4-3. In 1980-81, Richmond finished 15-14 to snap a streak of three straight losing seasons. Goetz resigned following the season to spend more time with his family.
Goetz's teams were known for their frantic pace and ability to score quickly. The 1979-80 team remains the last Spiders team to score more than 80 points per game, averaging 82.9 points. On December 3, 1979, Goetz and the Spiders beat Bluefield College 132-79, setting a school record for points in a game that stands to this day. Goetz's 1980-81 team still holds the school record for field goal percentage in a season at 53.5.
Goetz, a New Jersey native, played collegiately at Rutgers from 1966 to 1969.
Following Goetz's resignation, he was replaced by one of the assistants on his staff, Dick Tarrant. Tarrant would go on to compile a 239-126 record in 12 seasons with the Spiders, leading Richmond to five NCAA Tournaments and the 1988 Sweet 16.
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