Forwards Rich Dormer, left, and Andre Duncan give men's basketball coach Richard "Doc" Sauers a triumphal ride after his 700th career victory, an 89-71 win over the University of Bridgeport on Feb. 8. Guard Bob Markel is in the background. Sauers, in his 41st year at Albany, is the NCAA's fourth-winningest active coach, and only the 10th in history ever to win 700. The victory raised the men's record to 15-8 with three games remaining. Photo: Jeff Couch, The Record

University at Albany's Richard "Doc" Sauers became the 10th head coach in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) history to reach the 700-career mark with a 89-71 victory on February 8th over Bridgeport . Sauers, who is in his 41st season as the Albany mentor, has a 700-328 record.

Sauers, at 66 years old, stands alongside such legendary coaches as Kentucky's Adolph Rupp, North Carolina's Dean Smith, DePaul's Ray Meyer and F.C. "Phog" Allen of Kansas. Rupp holds the record for victories with 876 over a 41-year career.

Sauers, who is the fourth winningest active college head coach, became the 15th person to coach his 1000th game at the collegiate level in February 1996. He has suffered just one losing season during his career. The Great Danes, members of the New England Collegiate Conference, went 12-15 in their inaugural Division II campaign last year, but have already clinched a winning record this season with a current 15-8 overall mark.

Sauers, who became Albany's coach in 1955 when the school was known as the New York State College for Teachers, and Mount St. Mary's Jim Phelan are the only active coaches with 40 or more seasons at the same school. Sauers' son, Stephen, played for his father in the late 1980's, and is presently an assistant at Division I Marist College.

NCAA All-Division College Coaching Victories