Villanova Legend Rollie Massimino a Hall of Fame Candidate

Rollie Massimino coached Villanova Men’s Basketball from 1973 to 1972, amassing a 355–241 record over those 19 seasons that included the program’s first National Championship in 1985. Massimino, who died of metastatic cancer in August 2017, was named as one of 48 candidates in the North American subsection eligible for induction to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026.

Despite appearing on the ballot in each of the past two seasons and at least twice during his lifetime, Massimino hasn’t garnered enough votes for election yet. In 2023, the hall recognized him as a Naismith Coaches Circle Legacy Initiative Honoree, an award designed to pay tribute to coaches who expounded their core values both on and off court.

Philadelphia native and Villanova guard Bill Melchionni, who graduated in 1966, is a veterans nominee. A 6-foot-1 point guard, he averaged 19.2 points per game during his time with the Wildcats and 5.0 assists per game in the pros. Melchionni helped the 76ers win the 1967 NBA Championship.

Per a Villanova press release, “finalists chosen from the applicable Category Screening Committees for the Class of 2026 will be announced at a later date. The entire Class of 2026 will be unveiled during a nationally televised broadcast on Saturday, April 4, during Final Four Weekend.

The Finalist and Class Announcement times and broadcast networks will be announced by Monday, February 9.”

Alumnus Paul Arizin (’50) and former head coach Jay Wright are the other two Wildcats in the Hall of Fame.