May 29, 2024 |
Photo – A young Tony Windis – Courtesy UW Athletics
Former Rawlins High School coach and Wyoming Basketball Hall of Famer Tony Windis Senior died earlier this month.
On May 15th, Tony Windis Senior died at the age of 91. Windis is considered one of the greatest basketball players in the history of Wyoming. He played for the University of Wyoming Cowboys from 1957 to 1959. In 1999, Windis was inducted into the Wyoming Athletics Hall of Fame.
Wyoming Athletics Selection Committee Member Kevin McKinney said Windis still holds the second highest average career score in the history of the University of Wyoming’s basketball program. McKinney said Windis also holds the second highest single game score, a record that still stands 66 years later.
McKinney said Windis’s accomplishments are even more impressive when you consider that the three-point shot hadn’t been invented yet.
Windis was voted all-conference for all three of his eligible college years. He was also named Player of the Year in the Rockies for two consecutive years, 1958 and 1959.
McKinney said Windis had a long and successful career as both a basketball player and coach.
McKinney said as a young man, he watched Windis play basketball. The Wyoming Athletics Hall of Fame committee member said Windis is still considered to be one of the best to ever play the game.
In 1971, Windis began coaching high school basketball. In 1977, while coaching at Mountain View High School, he became the first coach in Wyoming history to win both a boys and girls state championship in the same year. Windis ended his coaching career in Rawlins after leading the Outlaws to the State Championship in 1982.
While coaching, Windis taught driver’s education at Rawlins High School. Many Rawlins students would describe Windis as a no-nonsense coach and teacher. McKinney said Windis had a well-deserved reputation for being tough both on and off the court.
McKinney said Windis is still considered to be one of the best basketball shooters in the state.
A memorial service for Tony Windis Senior will be held at the St Paul’s Newman Center Catholic Church, located at 1800 Grand Avenue, in Laramie, on Saturday, June 22nd, at 10:00am.
