Andy Tonkovich

Andrew Edward Tonkovich (November 1, 1922 – September 2, 2006) was an American professional basketball player and coach. He was selected as the first overall pick in the 1948 BAA draft by the Providence Steamrollers. He played college basketball for the Marshall Thundering Herd.

Andy Tonkovich
Personal information
Born(1922-11-01)November 1, 1922
Wheeling, West Virginia
DiedSeptember 2, 2006(2006-09-02) (aged 83)
Inverness, Florida
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High schoolUnion (Benwood, West Virginia)
CollegeMarshall (1944–1948)
BAA draft1948 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1st overall
Selected by the Providence Steamrollers
Playing career1948–1952
PositionPoint guard
Number7
Career history
As player:
1948Providence Steamrollers
1949–1952Wheeling Blues
As coach:
1949–1952Wheeling Blues
1952–1954St. John Central HS
Career highlights and awards
Career BAA statistics
Points44 (2.6 ppg)
Assists10 (0.6 apg)
Games played17
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Tonkovich led the Thundering Herd as team captain to the NAIB championship in 1947. He was named to the All-Tournament team and the NAIB All-American first-team. Tonkovich scored 1,578 points for the Thundering Herds, which was a record for the program at the time of his retirement.[1]

Tonkovich played 17 games for the Steamrollers during the 1948–49 BAA season. He left the team midseason and signed with the Wheeling Blues of the All-American Basketball League as a player-coach.[2][3]

After his playing retirement, Tonkovich became a high school coach and physical education teacher in West Virginia and Florida.[1] He served as the basketball coach at St. John Central High School in Bellaire, Ohio, from 1952 to 1954.[3] Tonkovich was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1973 and the Marshall Athletic Hall of Fame in 1985.[1]

References
  1. "Andy Tonkovich". Marshall University Athletics. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  2. "Blues Get Tonkovich". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. January 7, 1949. p. 18. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  3. "Legends to be honored at OVAC HOF banquet". Weirton Daily Times. May 4, 2014. Retrieved August 2, 2020.


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