Jack Rohan; led Columbia to basketball title

NEW YORK -- Jack Rohan, who coached Columbia to its last Ivy League basketball title 36 years ago, died Aug. 9 of complications from Guillain-Barre syndrome in a nursing home in South Yarmouth. He was 72.

The university announced his death last week.

A 1953 graduate of Columbia, Mr. Rohan played basketball and baseball there.

He became head coach at Columbia in 1961. Seven years later, he led the Lions to a share of the Ivy League title with Princeton. The Lions won the playoff game to finish 23-5. They were ranked in the Top Ten that season and featured Jim McMillian, Haywood Dotson, and Dave Newmark.

Mr. Rohan resigned as coach in 1974 to chair the school's physical education department.

He returned to coach the Lions in 1990 and led them for another five seasons, including a second-place finish in the league in 1992-93.

His career mark at Columbia was 198-247, the most games and wins in school history.

Mr. Rohan, who was buried Aug. 11 in Yarmouthport, Mass., leaves his wife, Barbara; two children; and three grandchildren.