LMU's early basketball history produced two Lions better known for their coaching tenures at other WCC schools than their LMU careers. Pete Newell and Phil Woolpert were classmates at LMU, graduating in 1939. Newell went on to coach the San Francisco Dons to the 1949 NIT title, and the California Golden Bears to the 1959 NCAA tournament championship. Newell is considered one of the most influential coaches in the history of basketball. Woolpert coached the legendary Bill Russell and K.C. Jones led University of San Francisco Dons to NCAA championships in 1954 and 1955.
Though LMU represented the WCC in the 1961 NCAA tournament, the Lions were consistently also rans in the WCC which included powerful University of San Francisco and Santa Clara University teams. Of note from LMU's early WCC teams is Rick Adelman, the 1968 WCC Player of the Year, who enjoyed a 7 year NBA career followed by a 30-year NBA coaching career.
The Lions burst onto the national basketball scene in the late 1980s under coach Paul Westhead. His teams led Division I in scoring in 1988 (110.3 points per game), 1989 (112.5) and 1990 (122.4).[3] LMU's 122.4 point per game in 1990 was still a record as of October 2010.[4] As of October 2010, Loyola Marymount held the five highest combined scoring games in Division I history. Four of the five occurred during Westhead's career, including a record 331 in the 181–150 win over United States International University on January 31, 1989.[5]
In the 1989–90 season, during the second round of the WCC tournament, Gathers collapsed and died on the court due to a heart condition. The team nevertheless reached the Elite Eight in the 1990 NCAA tournament. Its three postseason wins included a 149–115 regional victory over Michigan that established NCAA men's tournament records for points by one team and combined points in a single game. The Lions ultimately were eliminated by UNLV, a team that went on to win the national championship. Loyola Marymount's final record was 26–6. Gathers (#44) and teammate Bo Kimble (#30) later had their jerseys retired by LMU.
LMU alumnus Mike Dunlap took over the program in 2014 and guided the Lions until the end of the 2020 season. Dunlap was formerly the head coach of the Charlotte Bobcats.
On April 8, 2020, Stan Johnson was announced as the 27th head coach of Loyola Marymount.[11]
Postseason results
NCAA tournament results
The Lions have appeared in the NCAA tournament five times. Their combined record is 5–5.