Arad McCutchan

Who was Arad McCutchan?

Arad A. McCutchan was a well-known collegiate basketball coach. The Evansville, Indiana native coached his hometown University of Evansville from 1946 to 1977, guiding the Purple Aces to a 515-313 record.

McCutchan spent seven years coaching Bosse High School before serving in the United States Navy during World War II. In 1946 he took over the head coaching position at University of Evansville . In the following years he guided them to five NCAA College Division championships as well as three undefeated seasons in their conference. McCutchan was named NCAA College Division Coach of the Year two times. He was an assistant coach to Gene Bartow for the US national team in the 1974 FIBA World Championship, where he won the bronze medal. On April 27, 1981 he was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He was inducted in the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1973.

His first name, Arad, was inherited from a grandfather who was named from the Bible. He often said the name was Hebrew for "wild ass."