Lenny Rzeszewski
- November 6, 1923
- November 7, 2013
- 90 years
Remembering Lenny Rzeszewski: related finds and keepsakes
About Lenny Rzeszewski
Lenny Rzeszewski, 90, American college basketball player.
Explore other notable deaths in 2013 or deaths in November 2013.
The Deaths Archive presents
How well do you know Lenny Rzeszewski?
Explore their life. Test your knowledge. Beat the challenge.
10 questions · One legacy · How much do you really know?
Challenge your friends
Play together in real-time.
Advertisement
Full Biography
|Clemens L. "Lenny" Rzeszewski (November 6, 1923 – November 7, 2013) was an American college basketball player and, later, a high school coach.
High school career
Lenny Rzeszewski attended South Bend Central High School in South Bend, Indiana where he played for John Wooden. In 1941, his senior year, Rzeszewski was member of the school team that went 26–3, and would reach the semistate championship game, where they fell to Gary Froebel High School by one point.
College career
After high school, Lenny attended Indiana State University, located in Terre Haute, Indiana. He played basketball under head coach John Wooden and John Longfellow; he finished his career with 1,175 points. He helped lead the Sycamores to three consecutive IIC Championships and three NAIB (now NAIA) Tournaments. He was a member of the "South Bend Shuttle," as he and four fellow South Bend products — Jim Powers, Dan Dimich, Bob Brady and Bill Jagodzinski all played at Indiana State. These players led the Sycamores to a record of 95-31 (.754); a 30-4 (.882) in IIC play, including 4 conference titles, the 1950 NAIB National Title; the 1948 NAIB National Title-game and the 1949 NAIB National Title-final four during their four seasons of varsity play. In 1950, his senior season, Lenny led the Sycamores to the NAIB National Title; he was named the Chuck Taylor Award winner and to the All-Tourney team as the Sycamores clinched the National Title.
Post-college
Rzeszewski was selected as the 40th overall pick in the fourth round of the 1950 NBA draft by the Fort Wayne Pistons. He did not appear in a game but returned to in his hometown and embarked on a successful high school coaching career in basketball, baseball and cross-country. He was the head coach at South Bend James Whitcomb Riley High from 1958 to 1964 where he amassed a record of 52–77. Coach Rzeszewski was also a successful Baseball Coach at South Bend LaSalle for several years and in 1984 they were ranked number 1 heading into sectional play.
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
Interactive
Test Your Knowledge – Trivia Challenge
How well do you know this person's life and legacy?
No account needed to play. Sign in to keep your score on the leaderboard.
Books & Media
Find books, audiobooks and films about Lenny Rzeszewski on Amazon.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenny_Rzeszewski
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- September 29, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Lenny Rzeszewski's archived record and the sources above.
1.Which NBA team drafted Lenny Rzeszewski in 1950?
- A.Chicago Stags
- B.Indiana Pacers
- C.Indianapolis Olympians
- D.Fort Wayne Pistonscorrect
Lenny Rzeszewski was selected by the Fort Wayne Pistons in the 1950 NBA draft.
Source: Post-college
2.What was the record of Lenny Rzeszewski as head coach at South Bend James Whitcomb Riley High?
- A.95–31
- B.77–52
- C.26–3
- D.52–77correct
Lenny Rzeszewski amassed a record of 52–77 while coaching at South Bend James Whitcomb Riley High.
Source: Post-college
3.Which sports did Lenny Rzeszewski coach during his career?
- A.Basketball, baseball, and cross-countrycorrect
- B.Basketball and wrestling
- C.Basketball and football
- D.Baseball, soccer, and tennis
Lenny Rzeszewski had a high school coaching career in basketball, baseball and cross-country.
Source: Post-college
4.At which high school was Lenny Rzeszewski a successful baseball coach in 1984?
- A.South Bend Central High School
- B.Gary Froebel High School
- C.South Bend LaSalle High Schoolcorrect
- D.South Bend James Whitcomb Riley High
Coach Rzeszewski was a successful Baseball Coach at South Bend LaSalle for several years, including 1984.
Source: Post-college
5.What happened to the high school team Lenny Rzeszewski played for in the 1941 semistate championship game?
- A.They lost to Gary Froebel High School by one point.correct
- B.They won by a score of 95-31.
- C.They won the game by one point.
- D.The game was canceled due to weather.
In 1941, Lenny Rzeszewski's team fell to Gary Froebel High School by one point in the semistate championship.
Source: High school career
6.Besides John Wooden, who was the other head coach Lenny Rzeszewski played under at Indiana State?
- A.Jim Powers
- B.Dan Dimich
- C.John Longfellowcorrect
- D.Chuck Taylor
Lenny Rzeszewski played basketball under head coaches John Wooden and John Longfellow at Indiana State.
Source: College career
7.On what date did Lenny Rzeszewski pass away?
- A.November 6, 2013
- B.November 6, 1950
- C.November 7, 2013correct
- D.November 7, 1984
Lenny Rzeszewski passed away on November 7, 2013.
Source: Biographical introduction
8.What was the winning percentage of the Indiana State basketball team during the four seasons Lenny Rzeszewski played varsity?
- A..754correct
- B..882
- C..500
- D..950
The players led the Sycamores to a record of 95-31, which is a .754 winning percentage.
Source: College career
9.On what date was Lenny Rzeszewski born?
- A.November 7, 1924
- B.November 7, 1923
- C.November 6, 1924
- D.November 6, 1923correct
Lenny Rzeszewski was born on November 6, 1923.
Source: Biographical introduction
10.Which high school did Lenny Rzeszewski attend?
- A.South Bend Central High Schoolcorrect
- B.South Bend LaSalle High School
- C.South Bend James Whitcomb Riley High
- D.Gary Froebel High School
Lenny Rzeszewski attended South Bend Central High School.
Source: High school career
11.Who was the head coach of the high school team where Lenny Rzeszewski played during his senior year?
- A.Chuck Taylor
- B.Jim Powers
- C.John Woodencorrect
- D.John Longfellow
Lenny Rzeszewski played for coach John Wooden at South Bend Central High School.
Source: High school career
12.What university did Lenny Rzeszewski attend for his college career?
- A.Indiana University
- B.University of Notre Dame
- C.Indiana State Universitycorrect
- D.Purdue University
After high school, Lenny Rzeszewski attended Indiana State University.
Source: College career
13.How many total career points did Lenny Rzeszewski finish with at Indiana State University?
- A.950
- B.1,050
- C.1,175correct
- D.1,250
Lenny Rzeszewski finished his college basketball career with 1,175 points.
Source: College career
14.Which team was known as the South Bend Shuttle at Indiana State University?
- A.A group of basketball coaches led by John Wooden
- B.A travel team organized by Chuck Taylor
- C.A group of five players from South Bend including Lenny Rzeszewskicorrect
- D.The track and field team at Indiana State
Lenny Rzeszewski and four fellow South Bend products were members of the South Bend Shuttle.
Source: College career
15.In what year did Lenny Rzeszewski and the Indiana State University team win the NAIB National Title?
- A.1950correct
- B.1948
- C.1949
- D.1951
Lenny Rzeszewski led the Sycamores to the NAIB National Title in his senior season in 1950.
Source: College career
16.What award did Lenny Rzeszewski win during his senior season in 1950?
- A.The Sycamore MVP Award
- B.The John Longfellow Medal
- C.The Indiana State Scoring Title
- D.The Chuck Taylor Awardcorrect
In 1950, Lenny Rzeszewski was named the Chuck Taylor Award winner.
Source: College career
Explore the archive
People who died on November 7
Spotted an error?
Help us keep the archive accurate. Report a correction with a source.
Report an error for Lenny Rzeszewski →Advertisement
