Lenny Rzeszewski

Lenny Rzeszewski
Personal information
Born	November 6, 1923; South Bend, Indiana, U.S.
Died	November 7, 2013 (aged 90); New Carlisle, Indiana, U.S.
Listed height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight	185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High school	South Bend Central; (South Bend, Indiana)
College	Indiana State (1946–1950)
NBA draft	1950: 4th round, 40th overall pick
	Selected by the Fort Wayne Pistons
Position	Guard
Career highlights and awards
	NAIA All-American (1949); NAIA tournament MVP (1950);
	Stats at Basketball Reference

Clemens L. "Lenny" Rzeszewski (November 6, 1923 – November 7, 2013) was an American college basketball player and, later, a high school coach.

High school career

Lenny Rzeszewski attended South Bend Central High School in South Bend, Indiana where he played for John Wooden. In 1941, his senior year, Rzeszewski was member of the school team that went 26–3, and would reach the semistate championship game, where they fell to Gary Froebel High School by one point.^[1]

College career

After high school, Lenny attended Indiana State University, located in Terre Haute, Indiana. He played basketball under head coach John Wooden and John Longfellow; he finished his career with 1,175 points. He helped lead the Sycamores to three consecutive IIC Championships and three NAIB (now NAIA) Tournaments. He was a member of the "South Bend Shuttle," as he and four fellow South Bend products — Jim Powers, Dan Dimich, Bob Brady and Bill Jagodzinski all played at Indiana State. These players led the Sycamores to a record of 95-31 (.754); a 30-4 (.882) in IIC play, including 4 conference titles, the 1950 NAIB National Title; the 1948 NAIB National Title-game and the 1949 NAIB National Title-final four during their four seasons of varsity play. In 1950, his senior season, Lenny led the Sycamores to the NAIB National Title; he was named the Chuck Taylor Award winner and to the All-Tourney team as the Sycamores clinched the National Title.^[2]

Post-college

Rzeszewski was selected as the 40th overall pick in the fourth round of the 1950 NBA draft by the Fort Wayne Pistons. He did not appear in a game but returned to in his hometown and embarked on a successful high school coaching career in basketball, baseball and cross-country. He was the head coach at South Bend James Whitcomb Riley High from 1958 to 1964 where he amassed a record of 52–77. Coach Rzeszewski was also a successful Baseball Coach at South Bend LaSalle for several years and in 1984 they were ranked number 1 heading into sectional play.^[3]

References

^ Lesar, Al (November 8, 2013). "High school basketball: Rzeszewski legacy built on toughness". South Bend Tribune. Archived from the original on April 11, 2022. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
^ "The 2009-10 Indiana State Basketball Guide Now Available Online - GoSycamores.com—Official Web Site of Indiana State Athletics". www.gosycamores.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-11.
^ "'Old dogs' don't need new tricks - South Bend Tribune". articles.southbendtribune.com. Archived from the original on 2014-02-01.

External links

[1] Lesar, Al (November 8, 2013). "High school basketball: Rzeszewski legacy built on toughness". South Bend Tribune. Archived from the original on April 11, 2022. Retrieved April 11, 2022.

[2] "The 2009-10 Indiana State Basketball Guide Now Available Online - GoSycamores.com—Official Web Site of Indiana State Athletics". www.gosycamores.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-11.

[3] "'Old dogs' don't need new tricks - South Bend Tribune". articles.southbendtribune.com. Archived from the original on 2014-02-01.

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