| Back to e-WV
The West Virginia Encyclopedia
| Back to e-WV
The West Virginia Encyclopedia
Coach Frederick Appleton ‘‘Fred’’ Schaus (June 30, 1925-February 10, 2010) was born in Newark, Ohio, and became an all-state basketball player. After coming to West Virginia University, he set many individual records as a player and made All-American in 1949. Schaus passed up his senior year in college to play in the National Basketball Association, where he became an all-pro.
Schaus coached at WVU from 1954 to 1960, with a 146-37 record, the school’s best winning percentage. He guided WVU to a number one national ranking at the end of the 1958 regular season. His 1959 team lost 71-70 to California in the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament final. Schaus left WVU to return to the NBA as coach, vice president, and general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers. There he directed two of his WVU All-Americans, Jerry West and Rod Hundley. He came back to WVU as athletic director (1981–89). Winning teams, an expansion of facilities, and establishing the athletic department as a self-supporting entity were achievements during his years.
Fred Schaus was named to the WVU Hall of Fame in 1992. He was 84 when he died in Morgantown.
Written by Norman Julian
Julian, Norman. Legends: Profiles in West Virginia University Basketball. Morgantown: Trillium Pub., 1998.
West Virginia University Basketball Media Guide. 1998-1999.