Pepperdine University Athletics

From the 2008 Hall of Fame program:

After graduating from Fremont High School in Los Angeles in 1945, John Furlong was drafted into the U.S. Army to fight in Japan. Before Furlong saw any combat, he suffered a foot injury. With the war coming to an end, he spent the remainder of his tour of duty in the hospital until discharged. His G.I. Bill was valid for three years, and Furlong decided to stay close to his hometown and enrolled at Pepperdine.
 
A three-year letterwinner in basketball (1949-51), Furlong earned All-American honors as a senior in 1951 after leading the team in scoring (13.5 ppg) and rebounding (7.7 rpg). He also led the team in scoring (11.0 ppg) as a junior. Both years, he was named to the CCAA’s All-Conference team, and he also made the All-Far Western Section squad. He helped the Waves reach the NAIB Tournament in Kansas City, Mo., in both 1950 and 1951, where Pepperdine won its first-round game on both occasions.
 
Furlong graduated from Pepperdine in 1951 with a degree in physical education.
 
He was drafted in the third round by the Boston Celtics in 1951, but lost his bid to make the team. He then got a job on the assembly line at U.S. Steel but soon decided to try coaching. Furlong got his first coaching job at North Hollywood High School, and stayed there from 1953-61. He then coached for 24 years (1961-85) at Taft High School, and was so respected that the gym has officially been named the John Furlong Gymnasium. From 1985-88, Furlong coached at Bell High School. He then decided to retire after 35 years of service.
 
Under Furlong’s leadership during his 28 years as a varsity head basketball coach, his teams were first or second in the league 24 times, qualified for the sectional playoffs 25 times and reached the Final Four 10 times with one first-place win, three at second and six at third.  His teams won roughly 70 percent of its games over the years. Furlong was also the head gymnastics coach for 17 years, and his team won the section once, was first or second in the league 15 times and had a winning percentage of 82 percent.
 
Furlong now lives in Laguna Nigel, Calif., with his wife Lorna and still coaches high school basketball as a volunteer.