Seton Hall Athletics Mourns the Loss of Hall of Famer Dick Gaines
12/16/2022 9:23:00 AM | General, Men's Basketball
South Orange, N.J. - Seton Hall Athletics is saddened to learn that former men's basketball star and Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Richard "Dick" Gaines passed away on December 10 at the age of 86. The department keeps Dick, his wife Gail and his entire family in its thoughts and prayers.
Gaines was a phenomenal student-athlete at Seton Hall in the 1950s. As a member of the freshman team in 1953-54, he scored over 700 points. Then when he joined the varsity squad in 1954-55, he averaged 17.2 points and 7.4 rebounds a game as a sophomore. He went on to average 20.3 points and 8.2 rebounds in 1955-56 and 21.1 points and 7.5 rebounds in 1956-57. His 19.6 points per game career average still ranks fourth all-time in Seton Hall scoring history.
At the time of his graduation, his 1,511 career points ranked him second in program history, and today he still is in Seton Hall's top-20.Â
After his senior season, Gaines was an honorable mention All-America selection by the Associated Press.
Gaines was a part of three successful Seton Hall teams that reached national postseason. In total, the Pirates were 54-24 with Gaines in uniform, and they earned berths into the NIT all three years, including advancing to the quarterfinals in 1956.
After his Seton Hall career concluded, Gaines was selected by the Syracuse Nationals (now Philadelphia 76ers) in the 1957 NBA Draft and then went on to enjoy a long and successful career playing in the Eastern Basketball Association.Â
Upon his retirement from professional basketball, Gaines worked with the South Ward Boys Club in Newark and then became an educator in the East Orange school system.
Gaines is survived by his wife, Gail Jordan Gaines, children Dana and Richard Gaines, stepchildren Jahna Wilder and Christopher Jordan, as well as a host of grandchildren, nephew, nieces, and close friends.Â
Gaines was a phenomenal student-athlete at Seton Hall in the 1950s. As a member of the freshman team in 1953-54, he scored over 700 points. Then when he joined the varsity squad in 1954-55, he averaged 17.2 points and 7.4 rebounds a game as a sophomore. He went on to average 20.3 points and 8.2 rebounds in 1955-56 and 21.1 points and 7.5 rebounds in 1956-57. His 19.6 points per game career average still ranks fourth all-time in Seton Hall scoring history.
At the time of his graduation, his 1,511 career points ranked him second in program history, and today he still is in Seton Hall's top-20.Â
After his senior season, Gaines was an honorable mention All-America selection by the Associated Press.
Gaines was a part of three successful Seton Hall teams that reached national postseason. In total, the Pirates were 54-24 with Gaines in uniform, and they earned berths into the NIT all three years, including advancing to the quarterfinals in 1956.
After his Seton Hall career concluded, Gaines was selected by the Syracuse Nationals (now Philadelphia 76ers) in the 1957 NBA Draft and then went on to enjoy a long and successful career playing in the Eastern Basketball Association.Â
Upon his retirement from professional basketball, Gaines worked with the South Ward Boys Club in Newark and then became an educator in the East Orange school system.
Gaines is survived by his wife, Gail Jordan Gaines, children Dana and Richard Gaines, stepchildren Jahna Wilder and Christopher Jordan, as well as a host of grandchildren, nephew, nieces, and close friends.Â
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