Temple’s Chaney steams toward 1,000th game as collegiate coach

PHILADELPHIA – John Chaney barely had time to savor one of his earliest games back in 1972 when an indignant fan abruptly remarked he wasn’t too happy to have the rookie coach around.

“I told him, ‘Well, I’m going to be here for a long time so you better get used to me,’ ” Chaney recalled.

Sure enough, Chaney is still raising hell on the sidelines 32 years after his college coaching debut at Division II Cheyney State, in suburban Philadelphia. Chaney moved on to Temple, but not much else has changed for the Hall of Famer.

From threatening opposing coaches to giving a referee an earful in his loud, booming voice to reaching out to another underprivileged kid, Chaney’s remained steady through 999 games.

Chaney still seems restless and cranky, and his nattily attired appearance is usually in shambles after most games. As Chaney approaches his 1,000th career game, he knows his time on Temple’s sideline is nearing an end. But don’t go planning that retirement party yet.

“I would like to stay as long as I can, as long as my health is good and as long as the kids keep listening to me,” said Chaney, 72.

When Chaney (711-288) coaches Temple against Princeton on Monday, he will become the 19th Division I coach to reach 1,000 games and the fifth active one, joining Lou Henson, Bob Knight, Eddie Sutton, Lute Olson and Mike Krzyzewski.