Mar. 31, 2023 - The North Central College athletic department extends its sympathies to the family of Bill Warden '55, who passed away on March 25 at the age of 90. Bill is the all-time leading scorer in the history of the Cardinal men's basketball program who also coached the team to unprecedented success.
Bill played for the Cardinals from 1951-55 and still holds several of the program's all-time records, including the career records for points scored (2,249), points per game (28.5) and field goals made (847). Bill was named a First Team NAIA All-American by the Helms Foundation following his junior season, making him the Cardinals' first All-American in the sport.
After turning down a professional opportunity from the Minneapolis Lakers, Bill embarked upon a distinguished high school coaching career which included winning the boys' IHSA Class 2A State Championship at Morgan Park High School in 1976. Bill returned to North Central as the Cardinals' head coach in 1981 and won a school-record 204 games in 16 seasons, including College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) championships in 1985, 1989 and 1990.
Bill was recognized at halftime of the Cardinals' Nov. 30 game vs. Carroll University this season. Click HERE to view the ceremony and HERE to view Bill's Hall of Fame bio.
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Bill Warden
Year Inducted: 1983
Category: Coaches
Schools / Organizations: (Chicago) Morgan Park High School
(Naperville) North Central College
NBA: Lakers
Biography: Bill Warden has the unique situation of being inducted into the IBCA Hall of Fame in 1983 as both a coach and as a player. Bill Warden served from 1960 to 1980 as head basketball coach at Chicago’s Morgan Park HS. His overall record there was 288 – 208 (he didn’t coach during the 1961 – 62 season). Warden’s teams won conference titles in 1965, 1972, 1975 and 1976. Chicago Public League championships came in 1974 and 1976. The 1975 Morgan Park team was Public League runner-up. Morgan Park made state tourney appearances in 1974, 75 and 76. The 1976 club brought the state championship to Morgan Park in one of the best championship game finishes in IHSA history. Beginning in 1981, Warden served as head coach at his college alma mater North Central College in Naperville for several years.
Bill Warden, as a player, began his high school career at Oak Park-River Forest High School. After his four-year stint as a prep star, where he was an all-Suburban League selection in 1954 and the league’s second-leading scorer, Warden distinguished himself at North Central College in Naperville. Four times he was all-CCIW and was the first player in NAIA history to average 30 points per game for consecutive seasons. In 1952-53 Warden averaged 32.8, 1953-54 he averaged 30.7 and as a senior averaged 34.7 when he led the nation and was a first team NAIA All-American. His four-year scoring average at North Central was a whopping 28.4 ppg. Bill was drafted by the Minneapolis Lakers after graduation. He went on to play in the AAU for the Peoria Caterpillar Cats.
We Break Coach Warden's New Car Window - Kaboom!!
Coach Warden was a great guy and a fine coach. He was very patient with the antics of his high school players.
When I was a senior I forgot to bring my jersey for the team photo. The Coach lent his brand new Chevy convertible to Al Carlson and I to drive home to retrieve the jersey.
It was a nice day and Al and I decided to take the top down. What we did not realize was that you had to unzip the rear glass window before you lowered the top.
Bang!! Rear Window broken! We are in deep Kimchee!
We drove to the Mt Greenwood Lutheran Church, found my mother, and borrowed money and her car. Al drove the Chevy to the Chevy dealership to get the window repaired. I drove my mother's car back to school to tell the Coach and face the music.
The Coach as you may remember was a huge guy and very angry. But he did not kill me and for that I am still grateful. Thanks again, Coach, and rest in peace.
Al got the repaired car back to the coach about 6:00 pm.
The Coach was a calm guy and did not hold it against us. In fact he even rebated some of the money - seems he had previously done the same thing and had torn the fabric which we had replaced.
Craig Hullinger
_____________________________
Coach Warden required Allen to drive Craig home because Coach didn't trust Craig with the car alone (and look what still happened), and Craig had brought the away uniform for a home game, not forgotten it.Al Carlson
Thanks for the correction, Al. Last time I will ever borrow the Coaches car with you.
Craig Hullinger
North Central College
Hall of Fame
Induction Class of 2004
Coaching
Men's Basketball
Bill Warden's talent on the court was so impressive that he was drafted by the Minneapolis Lakers after he graduated.
As a Cardinal, he finished as the record holder for most points in a career (2,249), most points in a season (689), most points in a game (52), most field goal attempts in a season (533), most field goals in a career (847), most field goals in a season (254), most free throws in a career (555),
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