Feb. 24, 2010

Philadelphia University men's basketball coach Herb Magee, who became just the third men's coach in any division to reach 900 career wins a week ago, achieved his 903rd career win Tuesday night when his Rams downed Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference rival Goldey-Beacom, 76-65.

Magee, now in his 43rd season at Philadelphia, passed Bob Knight's 902 career-win total. He and Northern State coach Don Meyer, who announced yesterday that he will retire at the end of this season, are the only active men's NCAA coaches to win at least 900 games.

"I never expected these things," said Magee, following his 900th win. "I didn't get into coaching thinking I would get a certain number of victories. I'm in it for the players. It's the players who keep you tuned into teaching, recruiting, and the other things that go along with the job."

"He means everything to me," said forward Malcolm Ingram, a 6-foot-4 senior who recorded 22 points and nine rebounds in the win over Bloomfield. "He brought me here, he motivated me, he looked after me. He cares about you more as a person than as a basketball player."

Magee guided the Rams to the NCAA Division II championship in 1970.

Magee, who won a NABC Guardians of the Game award for education in 2005, will be honored for his milestone record on Sunday, April 4, at the AT&T NABC Guardians of the Game awards show at the Murat Theatre in Indianapolis.