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Finnegan Resigns From Coaching
Tom Finnegan, a 1965 graduate of Washington College who has directed its men's basketball program for 30 years, stepped down from coaching this season, on the advice of his cardiologist. Mike Hart, Finnegan's long-time assistant, has assumed head coaching duties on an interim basis.
Finnegan will continue to teach and advise students, and has assumed new duties as a counselor in the study skills office.
Under Finnegan's leadership the Shoremen have established a solid NCAA Division III program which has received consistent regional and national recognition. Washington has made eight Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) playoff appearances and four Centennial Conference (CC) playoff appearances. Finnegan's teams have made four NCAA Division III tournament appearances. In 1990 the Shoremen rolled all the way to the NCAA Division III Final Four, with a school record 25 wins.
Finnegan earned MAC Coach of the Year honors twice, in 1983-1984 and 1989-1990. During the 1991-1992 season, he was recognized for chalking up more wins than any coach in WC history. He holds a career record of 378-255.
Finnegan received his master's degree from The Johns Hopkins University in 1971 and a second master's degree in philosophy from Drew University in 1998. He was awarded his Ph.D. in modern intellectual history and literature from Drew in October 2000.
During his playing career at Washington College, Finnegan was named to the first team in both the Mason-Dixon and Middle Atlantic Conferences. He was a First-Team Maryland All-Collegiate selection, as well as a member of the Associated Press, United Press International, and the Converse All-American teams. He stills holds the College's single game scoring mark (51) and career scoring average (29.6). In 1984, Finnegan was inducted into the Washington College Athletic Hall of Fame.
Finnegan also was a stand-out baseball player. In college, he was First-Team Mason-Dixon and MAC shortstop in 1964 and 1965. In 1965, both the Boston Celtics and the Chicago Cubs drafted Finnegan. He signed a contract with the Cubs and played one season in their minor league system before deciding to pursue a career in teaching and coaching.
"I am grateful that my unique position as a tenured full professor and coach has enabled me to impact student-athletes both on and off the court. God has blessed me with a great deal of success, and I am extremely fortunate to have been associated with a number of wonderful and outstanding individuals throughout my years at Washington College," said Finnegan.
Mike Hart has been a member of the Shoremen coaching staff since 1983. In 1993-94, he served as interim head coach, guiding the team to a 13-12 record and a spot in the Centennial Conference playoffs.
A 1978 Baltimore All-Metro selection from Andover High School and two-year letter-winner at Western Maryland College, Hart has a B.S. from Towson University and an M.A. from Washington College.
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