Upcoming Event: Women's Golf versus ANNIKA Intercollegiate on September 8, 2025
Women's Golf
vs ANNIKA Intercollegiate
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Duke Athletics Hall of Fame
Vacendak, Steve
Steve Vacendak
- Induction:
- 1986
- Class:
- 1966
In one of Steve Vacendak's first meetings with Duke basketball coach Vic Bubas, Vacendak had just finished playing a game, emerging from the contest with skinned-up elbows and knees after diving for loose balls on an asphalt court. "Do you always play basketball like that?" Bubas asked him. "Yes sir, that's the only way I know how to play this game," Vacendak replied. That style of giving 110 percent characterized Vacendak's play for the Blue Devils.
Vacendak helped Duke to a 72-14 record and two Final Four appearances during his three-year varsity career. He was a member of the 1964 squad that played for the NCAA title and averaged 16.2 points a game for the 1965 team that fell to N.C. State in the ACC Tournament finals. He captained the 1966 club that went 26-4 and finished third in the nation. Vacendak scored 13.3 points a game that year and was named ACC Player of the Year despite being left off the All-ACC team.
Following his graduation, he want on to play professional basketball in the ABA then joined the sales staff at Converse Rubber Company. In 1980, he returned to Duke for a five-year stint as associate athletics director. Soon after Vacendak became director of athletics and head basketball coach at Winthrop College in Rock Hill, S.C.
Vacendak helped Duke to a 72-14 record and two Final Four appearances during his three-year varsity career. He was a member of the 1964 squad that played for the NCAA title and averaged 16.2 points a game for the 1965 team that fell to N.C. State in the ACC Tournament finals. He captained the 1966 club that went 26-4 and finished third in the nation. Vacendak scored 13.3 points a game that year and was named ACC Player of the Year despite being left off the All-ACC team.
Following his graduation, he want on to play professional basketball in the ABA then joined the sales staff at Converse Rubber Company. In 1980, he returned to Duke for a five-year stint as associate athletics director. Soon after Vacendak became director of athletics and head basketball coach at Winthrop College in Rock Hill, S.C.
Coach Patke Press Conference: Tulane
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Coach Brewer Press Conference: Tulane
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Coach Diaz Press Conference: Tulane
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Kieran Hall Postgame Vs. Alabama
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