Larry Costello

=== Niagara University ===

=== Niagara University ===

Costello attended [[Niagara University]], where he starred on the basketball team. His teammates included, among other, future Hall of fame coach [[Hubie Brown]], and future NBA coach [[Frank Layden]].<ref name=":02">{{Cite news |last=Weidner |first=Nolan |date=December 13, 2001 |title=CNY Loses a Legend |work=The Post-Standard (Syracuse, New York) |pages=43}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Goldstein |first=Richard |date=2001-12-14 |title=Larry Costello, 70, Player and Coach in N.B.A., Is Dead |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/14/nyregion/larry-costello-70-player-and-coach-in-nba-is-dead.html |access-date=2025-07-07 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame :: Hubie Brown |url=https://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/hubie-brown/ |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=www.hoophall.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Frank Layden, 1998 NYC Basketball Hall of Famer |url=https://hoopshallny.org/inductee/frank-layden/ |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=The NYC Basketball Hall of Fame |language=en-US}}</ref>

Costello attended [[Niagara University]], where he starred on the basketball team. His teammates included, among other, future Hall of fame coach [[Hubie Brown]], and future NBA coach [[Frank Layden]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Goldstein |first=Richard |date=2001-12-14 |title=Larry Costello, 70, Player and Coach in N.B.A., Is Dead |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/14/nyregion/larry-costello-70-player-and-coach-in-nba-is-dead.html |access-date=2025-07-07 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame :: Hubie Brown |url=https://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/hubie-brown/ |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=www.hoophall.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Frank Layden, 1998 NYC Basketball Hall of Famer |url=https://hoopshallny.org/inductee/frank-layden/ |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=The NYC Basketball Hall of Fame |language=en-US}}</ref>

Costello played three seasons at Niagara, from 1951 to 1954, after spending his freshman year on the freshman team due to the NCAA rules of the time. He led the freshman team to a perfect 23–0 record. As a junior he averaged 18.2 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, and 15.3 points and 2.2 rebounds per game as a senior. Niagara was a member of the men's [[Western New York Little Three Conference]], which he led in scoring in the 1952-53 and 1953-54 seasons. Costello graduated as the all-time leading scorer (1,275) in program history (he now ranks in the top thirty). He was an [[All-America]] honorable mention in 1953.<ref name="Brady2">{{cite news |last=Brady |first=Erik |date=April 6, 2022 |title=Erik Brady: Niagara legend Larry Costello to finally get his due in Basketball Hall of Fame |url=https://buffalonews.com/sports/college/erik-brady-niagara-legend-larry-costello-to-finally-get-his-due-in-basketball-hall-of/article_018cac14-b5b3-11ec-a80e-cbf9aa43f1de.html |access-date=December 24, 2022 |work=The Buffalo News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Distant |first=Jason |date=April 3, 2022 |title=East Syracuse-Minoa legend Larry Costello to be inducted in NBA Hall of Fame |url=https://cnycentral.com/news/local/east-syracuse-minoa-legend-larry-costello-to-be-inducted-in-nba-hall-of-fame |website=cnycentral.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-08-03 |title=Larry Costello - Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame |url=https://www.buffalosportshallfame.com/larry-costello/ |access-date=2025-07-08 |website=www.buffalosportshallfame.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Larry Costello College Stats |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/larry-costello-1.html |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1953-54 Men's Western New York Little Three Conference Season Summary |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/conferences/wny3/men/1954.html |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1952-53 Men's Western New York Little Three Conference Season Summary |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/conferences/wny3/men/1953.html |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":02" />

Costello played three seasons at Niagara, from 1951 to 1954, after spending his freshman year on the freshman team due to the NCAA rules of the time. He led the freshman team to a perfect 23–0 record. As a junior he averaged 18.2 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, and 15.3 points and 2.2 rebounds per game as a senior. Niagara was a member of the men's [[Western New York Little Three Conference]], which he led in scoring in the 1952-53 and 1953-54 seasons. Costello graduated as the all-time leading scorer (1,275) in program history (he now ranks in the top thirty). He was an [[All-America]] honorable mention in 1953.<ref name="Brady2">{{cite news |last=Brady |first=Erik |date=April 6, 2022 |title=Erik Brady: Niagara legend Larry Costello to finally get his due in Basketball Hall of Fame |url=https://buffalonews.com/sports/college/erik-brady-niagara-legend-larry-costello-to-finally-get-his-due-in-basketball-hall-of/article_018cac14-b5b3-11ec-a80e-cbf9aa43f1de.html |access-date=December 24, 2022 |work=The Buffalo News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Distant |first=Jason |date=April 3, 2022 |title=East Syracuse-Minoa legend Larry Costello to be inducted in NBA Hall of Fame |url=https://cnycentral.com/news/local/east-syracuse-minoa-legend-larry-costello-to-be-inducted-in-nba-hall-of-fame |website=cnycentral.com}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{Cite web |date=2012-08-03 |title=Larry Costello - Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame |url=https://www.buffalosportshallfame.com/larry-costello/ |access-date=2025-07-08 |website=www.buffalosportshallfame.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Larry Costello College Stats |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/larry-costello-1.html |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1953-54 Men's Western New York Little Three Conference Season Summary |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/conferences/wny3/men/1954.html |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1952-53 Men's Western New York Little Three Conference Season Summary |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/conferences/wny3/men/1953.html |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":02">{{Cite news |last=Weidner |first=Nolan |date=December 13, 2001 |title=CNY Loses a Legend |work=The Post-Standard (Syracuse, New York) |pages=43}}</ref>

Costello led the [[Niagara Purple Eagles men's basketball|Purple Eagles]] to the [[National Invitational Tournament]] in 1953, losing to eventual champion [[Seton Hall University|Seton Hall]] led by [[Walter Dukes]], 79–74. Costello scored a team-leading 20 points in the game. Niagara and Costello went to the NIT again in 1954, where they won two of three games, and finished third in the tournament, defeating [[Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball|Western Kentucky]] 71–65 in the consolation game. Costello scored 17 points and excelled in all aspects of the game.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=1952-53 Niagara Purple Eagles Men's Schedule and Results |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/niagara/men/1953-schedule.html |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kritzer |first=Cy |date=March 11, 1953 |title=Niagara 'Gamest' Team In History of the N.I.T., Bows Out in Tears |work=Buffalo Evening News |pages=20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1952-53 Seton Hall Pirates Men's Schedule and Results |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/seton-hall/men/1953-schedule.html |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=March 14, 1954 |title=Togo Palazzi Leads Holy Cross to NIT Title |work=Winston-Salem Journal (Associated Press) |pages=16}}</ref> The 1952-53 team finished with a 22–6 record, and the 1953-54 team had a 24–6 record, and was ranked No. 16 in the final [[Associated Press]] (AP) poll among college teams.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1952-53 Niagara Purple Eagles Men's Schedule and Results |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/niagara/men/1953-schedule.html |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1953-54 Niagara Purple Eagles Men's Schedule and Results |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/niagara/men/1954-schedule.html |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

Costello led the [[Niagara Purple Eagles men's basketball|Purple Eagles]] to the [[National Invitational Tournament]] in 1953, losing to eventual champion [[Seton Hall University|Seton Hall]] led by [[Walter Dukes]], 79–74. Costello scored a team-leading 20 points in the game. Niagara and Costello went to the NIT again in 1954, where they won two of three games, and finished third in the tournament, defeating [[Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball|Western Kentucky]] 71–65 in the consolation game. Costello scored 17 points and excelled in all aspects of the game.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=1952-53 Niagara Purple Eagles Men's Schedule and Results |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/niagara/men/1953-schedule.html |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kritzer |first=Cy |date=March 11, 1953 |title=Niagara 'Gamest' Team In History of the N.I.T., Bows Out in Tears |work=Buffalo Evening News |pages=20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1952-53 Seton Hall Pirates Men's Schedule and Results |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/seton-hall/men/1953-schedule.html |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=March 14, 1954 |title=Togo Palazzi Leads Holy Cross to NIT Title |work=Winston-Salem Journal (Associated Press) |pages=16}}</ref> The 1952-53 team finished with a 22–6 record, and the 1953-54 team had a 24–6 record, and was ranked No. 16 in the final [[Associated Press]] (AP) poll among college teams.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1952-53 Niagara Purple Eagles Men's Schedule and Results |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/niagara/men/1953-schedule.html |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1953-54 Niagara Purple Eagles Men's Schedule and Results |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/niagara/men/1954-schedule.html |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

Costello began his coaching career at East Syracuse-Minoa High School, his alma mater, during his first NBA retirement in 1965.<ref name=":11" /> He also served as a coach there for the 1968 season.{{citation needed|date=July 2025}}

Costello began his coaching career at East Syracuse-Minoa High School, his alma mater, during his first NBA retirement in 1965.<ref name=":11" /> He also served as a coach there for the 1968 season.{{citation needed|date=July 2025}}

Costello took over as the first head coach of the expansion team [[Milwaukee Bucks]] in 1968, remaining head coach until November 1976. and coached them to a league-best 66–16 mark in 1970–71, including a then-NBA record [[List of National Basketball Association longest winning streaks|20-game win streak]]. The Bucks won the championship in the post-season with a 4–0 sweep of the [[Baltimore Bullets (1963–73)|Baltimore Bullets]]. The Bucks won a league best 59 games during the 1973–74 regular season and returned to the NBA Finals, where they lost to the [[Boston Celtics]] in seven games.

Costello took over as the first head coach of the expansion team [[Milwaukee Bucks]] in 1968,<ref name=":12" /> remaining head coach until November 1976. and coached them to a league-best 66–16 mark in 1970–71, including a then-NBA record [[List of National Basketball Association longest winning streaks|20-game win streak]]. The Bucks won the championship in the post-season with a 4–0 sweep of the [[Baltimore Bullets (1963–73)|Baltimore Bullets]]. The Bucks won a league best 59 games during the 1973–74 regular season and returned to the NBA Finals, where they lost to the [[Boston Celtics]] in seven games.

After a 3–15 start in the [[1976–77 NBA season|1976–77 season]], Costello resigned on November 22, 1976.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1976/11/23/archives/costello-and-embry-quit-bucks-nelson-is-coach.html Costello Quits Bucks<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> He resigned along with general manager [[Wayne Embry]], after they had fallen out of favor with team president James Fitzgerald.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 23, 1976 |title=Bucks' Costello, Embry resign |work=Stevens Point Journal (Stevens Point, Wisconsin) |pages=10}}</ref> He was replaced by [[Don Nelson]], who would be head coach of the Bucks for 11 seasons.

After a 3–15 start in the [[1976–77 NBA season|1976–77 season]], Costello resigned on November 22, 1976.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1976/11/23/archives/costello-and-embry-quit-bucks-nelson-is-coach.html Costello Quits Bucks<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> He resigned along with general manager [[Wayne Embry]], after they had fallen out of favor with team president James Fitzgerald.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 23, 1976 |title=Bucks' Costello, Embry resign |work=Stevens Point Journal (Stevens Point, Wisconsin) |pages=10}}</ref> He was replaced by [[Don Nelson]], who would be head coach of the Bucks for 11 seasons.