Former Barton coach, athletic director, and hall of fame member Dick Nagy passes away at age 78 #GoBarton

Dick Nagy, the first coach in Barton men's basketball history and former athletic director, passed away Wednesday (October 6) after a long illness at the age of 78.

Starting the program in the College's first year of operation in 1969, Nagy led the Cougars for its initial seven years, a career path that blossomed into over 30 years of coaching including the longtime term under the legendary Lou Henson at the University of Illinois from 1979-1996.

Following the Cougars' initial season, the next four were winning seasons with a 20-win mark in just the 3rd year of the program. Nagy finished his career at Barton with 99 wins and two trips to the Regional Finals. Nagy's list of former players is long and distinguished, including players who made a lasting impact to this day in the program record book such as Ike Harper and Barton Hall of Fame members Clair Oleen, Shane Cordell, and Kevin Sundahl.

"It seems fitting that Coach Nagy would pass away on National Coaches Day," said Sundahl, a 2004 Barton Hall of Fame Inductee. "He was very demanding but didn't expect his players to work any harder than he did! In many ways, his players came first." Sundahl not only played for Nagy during the program's first two seasons but was also an assistant coach under Nagy from 1974-76.

A 2007 Barton Sports Hall of Fame Inductee, Nagy was also the athletic director at Barton from 1973-76, as well as, a psychology teacher. As athletic director, Nagy helped shape the early years of the Barton Athletic Department and brought in talented players, coaches, and administrators including the hiring of longtime athletic secretary and 2006 Hall of Fame Inductee Dana Foss.