Tom "Pick n Roll" Kleinschmidt Hired As New GT Basketball Coach

[mr.MUskie]

Gordon Tech College Prep is excited to announce that former GT standout, Tom Kleinschmidt, has been hired as the Head Basketball Coach for his Alma Mater.  Tom will become Gordon Tech's 16th Head Coach.  He takes over a program that has produced quite a few future NBA coaches, including greats such as Dick Versace, Dan Chubrillo, and Bob Ociepka.  During his time at GT, Tom played under the late Steve Pappas.

Tom left an incredible legacy at Gordon Tech as an athlete, arguably the best basketball player to ever lace a pair of gym shoes for the Rams.  He was an all-state selection his senior year and was fortunate enough to be chosen to play in the McDonald's All-American game.  He still holds the record as the school's all-time scoring and rebounding leader.

He later became a star at DePaul University, where he was a three-time first team All-Great Midwest Conference pick.  He was the conference player of the year and an AP honorable mention All-American as a senior in 1995, making him the first conference Player Of The Year winner in DePaul history. In his DePaul career, Kleinschmidt scored 1,837 points (16.3 per game). He was the first Blue Demon to amass over 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 300 assists, 100 steals and 100 three pointers.  In 2010 Tom Kleinschmidt was inducted into the DePaul University Hall of Fame.

After DePaul, Tom was fortunate enough to play professionally in Italy and Venezuela, but made his biggest impact playing professionally in Japan.  While playing in the Japanese Super League, Tom played for three teams: Bosch, Mitsubishi and Toshiba.  Twice in his career he led the league in scoring; he led the league in assists four times, and was the league's MVP twice.  After retiring from basketball, Tom served as an assistant coach at DePaul University, and most recently coached at York High School in Elmhurst.

Coach Kleinschmidt will now have an opportunity to leave a different legacy at GT.  He is very excited about having the chance to grow and develop a successful basketball program.  The Gordon Tech family is thrilled to welcome back one of its best, and looks forward to continued success for our storied program.

[JWags85]

My memories of Kleinschmidt are 1) I think Gordon Tech beat St Joe's in Will Gates senior year right?  If I remember Hoop Dreams correct.  2) Being that annoyingly good white dude from Depaul back when our two programs were still on level footing in the Joey Meyer days.

[Canadian Dimes]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwJDTsAcR0k


Hey Chico show that to your Depaul "friends" in your office,  then maybe u can discuss over beers

[AlumKCof93]

Perhaps my all-time most despised college basketball player.  Overrated, self-centered punk

[warthog-driver]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwJDTsAcR0k


Hey Chico Hoop show that to your Depaul "friends" in your office,  then maybe u can discuss over beers while on vacation with your family

[Dawson Rental]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwJDTsAcR0k


Hey Chico/Hoop show that to your Depaul "friends" in your office,  then maybe u can discuss over beers

[4everwarriors]

Made his mark in Japan. Likely that's where the pick and roll move came from. Works beautifully as a sushi garnish.

[MarsupialMadness]

Made his mark in Japan. Likely that's where the pick and roll move came from. Works beautifully as a sushi garnish.

I think you're talking about "pick a roll"

[The Equalizer]

My memories of Kleinschmidt are 1) I think Gordon Tech beat St Joe's in Will Gates senior year right?  If I remember Hoop Dreams correct.  2) Being that annoyingly good white dude from Depaul back when our two programs were still on level footing in the Joey Meyer days.

Our programs weren't on level footing at any point when Joey Meyer was coach.

For the first 8 years of Joey Meyer's tenure at DePaul, the Blue Demons were significantly better than us, making eight straight NCAA tournaments.  Over those same eight seasons, MU didn't make a single NCAA tournament, and only made the NIT four times.

From 1993 on, fortunes were reversed.  MU made the NCAA four out of five seasons (and the NIT in the other).  DePaul on the other hand missed the NCAA all five years, and made one NIT just once--in 1994 when we were a Sweet 16 team.

Over Meyer's 13 season span, DePaul and MU were never both in the NCAA tournament in the same season.

As an aside, Kleinschmidt made just one NCAA tournament at DePaul--his freshman season. 

[Classof83]

Please recall the 2/3/2008 Marquette v. De Paul game:Tom Kleinschmidt caught on TV picking his nose and then eating the fruits of his effort!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwJDTsAcR0k

[warthog-driver]

Please recall the 2/3/2008 Marquette v. De Paul game:Tom Kleinschmidt caught on TV picking his nose and then eating the fruits of his effort!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwJDTsAcR0k

Is that how he got the nickname? Good Lord that is sad...

[AZWarrior]

Our programs weren't on level footing at any point when Joey Meyer was coach.

For the first 8 years of Joey Meyer's tenure at DePaul, the Blue Demons were significantly better than us, making eight straight NCAA tournaments.  Over those same eight seasons, MU didn't make a single NCAA tournament, and only made the NIT four times.
 

Those were dark, dark days.  Deep, dark days.  So glad they are over.  May they never return.

[77ncaachamps]

Looks a like a WWE star, no?

[warriorchick]

Looks a like a WWE star, no?

Holy crap, that's him?  I would have never recognized him!

[JWags85]

Honestly thats a better look than the haircut he stole from a 6 year old nerdy kid from that video earlier.

[4everwarriors]

Holy crap, that's him?  I would have never recognized him!

Would ya know him if he went commando?

[Lennys Tap]

For the first 8 years of Joey Meyer's tenure at DePaul, the Blue Demons were significantly better than us, making eight straight NCAA tournaments.  

From 1993 on, fortunes were reversed.  MU made the NCAA four out of five seasons (and the NIT in the other).  DePaul on the other hand missed the NCAA all five years, and made one NIT just once--in 1994 when we were a Sweet 16 team.

Over Meyer's 13 season span, DePaul and MU were never both in the NCAA tournament in the same season.

More proof that 8 years aren't nearly enough to judge a coach.