Biography

Mullaney was a four year starter at Holy Cross and co-captain of the Crusaders’ 1947 NCAA basketball champions. He earned All-New England that year, leading HC to a 27-3 record.  En route to the national championship, the Crusaders won their last 23 games in a row.  More of a playmaker than scorer, Mullaney totalled 528 points in his career.  After graduation he played for one season with the Boston Celtics, followed by two years with the FBI.  He the returned to basketball as a coach and had remarkable career.  While he spent two years as head coach of the Lakers in the NBA (taking LA to the finals in his first year), and many years in the ABA, Mullaney is most famous for his 18 years as the head coach of Providence.  He led the Friars to a 319-164 record during his tenure, with two NIT championships and seven other postseason appearances.  He passed away in 2000.