Bill Sweek

{{Short description|American basketball player and coach (born 1947)}}

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Bill Sweek

| image = Bill Sweek.png

| image_size =

| caption =Sweek with the Bruins during 1968–69 season

| height_ft =6

| height_in =3

| weight_lb =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1947|01|09}}

| birth_place= Los Angeles County, California, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| highschool =Pasadena (Pasadena, California)

| college = UCLA (1966–1969)

| draft_year = 1969

| draft_round = 7

| draft_pick = 86

| draft_team = Phoenix Suns

| career_position = Guard

| career_start=1969

| career_end=1975

| years1= 1969–1970 | team1= Hamden Bics

| years2= 1971–1972| team2= CSC

| years3= 1972–1975| team3= Stade Français

| coach_start=1971

| coach_end=1991

| cyears1=1971–1972 | cteam1= EO Goulette Kram

| cyears2= 1971–1972| cteam2= Tunisia

| cyears3= 1972–1975| cteam3=Stade Français

| cyears4= 1976–1977| cteam4=Clermont UC

| cyears5= 1977–1979| cteam5=Le Mans

| cyears6= 1983–1984| cteam6=Hungary

| cyears7= 1985–1990| cteam7=AS Monaco

| cyears8=1990–1991 | cteam8=Limoges CSP

| highlights =

3× NCAA champion (1967–1969)

}}

William Thomas Sweek (born January 9, 1947){{Cite web|url=https://www.californiabirthindex.org/birth/william_thomas_sweek_born_1947_3535866|title=William Thomas Sweek was born on January 9, 1947 in Los Angeles County, California|website=californiabirthindex.org|publisher=California Birth Index|access-date=May 23, 2020}} is an American former basketball player and coach. He played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins under Coach John Wooden, winning three straight national championships from 1967 through 1969. The guard played professionally in France, and also became a coach in Europe and Africa. Sweek coached Clermont UC and Le Mans Sarthe Basket to national championships in France, and also led the Tunisia national basketball team. He was later a sports agent, and in time also worked as a high school coach and teacher.

Early life

Sweek played basketball at Pasadena High School in Pasadena, California. In his senior year in 1964, he was the school's co-Player of the Year with teammate Jim Marsh, and was also named to the San Gabriel Valley All-Star Team by the Pasadena Independent and Star News.{{cite news|last=Jensen|first=George|title=Marsh Named Valley's Top Prep Cager|date=March 23, 1964|newspaper=Pasadena Independent|page=15|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2916913/|accessdate=July 31, 2015|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}

College career

Sweek was a rugged guard who was a key reserve at UCLA.{{cite news|last=Witz|first=Billy|title=BLAST FROM THE PAST AS SEASON CRUMBLES, UCLA'S ALUMS CRINGE|date=February 4, 2003|newspaper=Daily News|location=Los Angeles|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-97339389.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924165648/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-97339389.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 24, 2015 |via=Highbeam Research|accessdate=July 31, 2015}}{{cite news |last=King |first=Jason |title=Class of classes |date=May 29, 2009 |work=Yahoo! Sports |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news?slug=jn-tophoopsclasses052909 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305160118/https://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news?slug=jn-tophoopsclasses052909 |archivedate=March 5, 2016 |url-status=live }} Bruins coach John Wooden called him "one of the best players we've ever had at going into a game and stirring things up." Led by the dominant play of Lew Alcindor (known later as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), the Bruins went 88–2 in Sweek's three seasons on the varsity squad.{{cite news |last=Mayer |first=Bill |title=KU roster could be best ever |date=May 1, 2009 |work=KUSports.com |url=http://www2.kusports.com/news/2009/may/01/ku-roster-could-be-best-ever/?print |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619044406/https://www2.kusports.com/news/2009/may/01/ku-roster-could-be-best-ever/?print |archivedate=June 19, 2022 |url-status=live }} Sweek is one of 14 players who won three National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) titles at UCLA under Wooden.{{cite news |last=Crowe |first=Jerry |title=Kobe Bryant vs. Ron Artest is worth hearing |date=April 3, 2009 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-apr-03-sp-crowe3-story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529051810/http://articles.latimes.com/2009/apr/03/sports/sp-crowe3 |archive-date=May 29, 2015 |url-status=live }}

Sweek played on the UCLA freshman team in 1964–65,{{cite news|title=Brubabes Trample PCC, 89–72|date=December 19, 1964|newspaper=Pasadena Independent|page=13|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2930311/|accessdate=August 2, 2015|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} and redshirted the following season.{{cite news|last=Ives|first=Hank|title=Heartbreaking Opportunity|date=March 13, 1966|newspaper=Independent Star-News|page=A-2|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2917077/|accessdate=July 31, 2015|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} In 1966–67, he was joined on the varsity team by incoming sophomores Alcindor, Lucius Allen, Lynn Shackelford and Kenny Heitz, who were recruited in 1965.{{cite book|last=Davis|first=Seth|title=Wooden: A Coach's Life|year=2014|publisher=Macmillan|pages=251, 263|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gT5GAgAAQBAJ&q=sweek%20alcindor%20heitz&pg=PA251|isbn= 9780805092806|accessdate=August 3, 2015}} Sweek was the sixth man for the Bruins, who went 30–0 and won the national title.{{cite news|last=Meier|first=Ted|title=UCLA—Place Where The Rich Get Richer|date=March 27, 1967|newspaper=The Morning Herald|agency=Associated Press|page=16|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2917104/|accessdate=July 31, 2015|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} Wooden typically utilized him late in games whenever the opponents were rallying.{{cite news|last=Hollingworth|first=Hank|title=Warren's Scoring Sacrifice Key To UCLA|date=March 29, 1967|newspaper=Independent|location=Long Beach, California|page=C-2|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2930282/|accessdate=August 2, 2015|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} Against USC in February 1967, Sweek helped stave off an upset in overtime after scoring two baskets, making two steals, and forcing another turnover in a 40–35 victory over their intercity rivals.{{cite news|last=Schrader|first=Loel|title=If UCLA Needs a Pickup Saturday, Sweek Will Be Ready|date=March 8, 1968|newspaper=Independent|location=Long Beach, California|page=C-1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2916961/|accessdate=July 31, 2015|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}{{cite news|title=Weekly Cage Award Goes To Bill Sweek|date=February 7, 1967|newspaper=The Independent|location=Pasadena, California|page=15|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2917088/|accessdate=July 31, 2015|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} For the season, he and Shackelford shared honors as the team's most improved player.{{cite news|title=Alcindor Votes MVP By The Bruins|date=April 5, 1967|newspaper=El Paso Herald-Post|agency=UPI|page=C-6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2920408/|accessdate=July 31, 2015|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} By the start of his junior year in 1967–68, Sweek was supplanted by Mike Lynn as UCLA's top reserve.{{cite news|last=Esper|first=Dwain|title=UCLA Most Devastating|date=December 9, 1967|newspaper=Independent Star-News|page=8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2917114/|accessdate=July 31, 2015|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} In the season opener, Sweek hit a game-winning, outside shot with two seconds remaining in a 73–71 win against Purdue.{{cite news|title=Bruins Win Cage Opener Over Purdue|date=December 3, 1967|newspaper=The Daily Plainsman|agency=AP|page=10|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2920469/|accessdate=July 31, 2015|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} However, he generally received little playing time that season.{{cite news|title=Lew And UCLA Eyeing Another Great Season|date=December 5, 1968|newspaper=The Mexia Daily News|page=4|agency=AP|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2919978/|accessdate=July 31, 2015|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}

As a senior in 1968–69, Sweek was again voted the Bruins' most improved player.{{cite news|title=Alcindor Selected Most Valuable Bruin|date=May 8, 1969|newspaper=Independent|location=Long Beach, California|page=C-3|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2916881/|accessdate=July 31, 2015|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} The team had lost starting guards Allen and Mike Warren from the year before, but they were effectively replaced by Sweek, Heitz, and junior college transfer John Vallely, who each played about equally.{{cite news|title='Different' Bruins Eye Record|date=March 18, 1969|newspaper=Piqua Daily Call|agency=AP|page=9|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2919805/|accessdate=July 31, 2015|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} In the semifinals of the 1969 NCAA tournament against Drake, the Bruins started poorly. Towards the middle of the first half, Sweek missed a defensive assignment, prompting Wooden to pull him from the game.{{cite magazine |last=Davis |first=Seth |title=The Wizard And the Giant |date=January 13, 2014 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |url=https://www.si.com/vault/2014/01/13/106417191/the-wizard-and-the-giant |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924190758/http://www.si.com/vault/2014/01/13/106417191/the-wizard-and-the-giant |archivedate=September 24, 2015 |url-status=live }} Already unhappy with his playing time having shrunk in the prior weeks, Sweek remained on the bench for most of the game. When Vallely fouled out with four minutes left in the game, Sweek was directed by Wooden to re-enter the game. However, he was casual in checking in, prompting the coach to ask him to sit if he did not want to play. Instead, Sweek walked off the court and headed to the locker room. After the game, won 85–82 by UCLA, Wooden was furious with Sweek, who felt certain he would be kicked off the team. However, the coach eventually forgave him, and played him in the title game two nights later against Purdue.{{cite news |last=Padecky |first=Bob |title=When Wooden lost his cool |date=June 9, 2010 |newspaper=The Press Democrat |url=http://www.pressdemocrat.com/csp/mediapool/sites/PressDemocrat/News/story.csp?cid=2252799 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924103655/http://www.pressdemocrat.com/csp/mediapool/sites/PressDemocrat/News/story.csp?cid=2252799 |archivedate=September 24, 2015 |url-status=live }}{{cite book|last1=Williams|first1=Pat|last2=Wimbish|first2=David|title=How to Be Like Coach Wooden|page=161|year=2006|publisher=Health Communications, Inc|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CmijAgAAQBAJ&q=%22bill%20sweek%22%20coach&pg=PA161|isbn=9780757303913|accessdate=July 31, 2015}} Sweek shot a perfect three of three in the game, which the Bruins won by 20 points for their record-setting third consecutive NCAA title.{{cite news|last=McMane|first=Fred|title=Lew Came To Play in Finals|date=March 24, 1969|newspaper=El Paso Herald-Post|agency=UPI|page=C-1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2919923/|accessdate=July 31, 2015|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} As years passed, Sweek's appreciation for Wooden's gesture grew. "Somehow, he was gracious enough to forgive me when I was totally wrong," said Sweek.{{cite news |last=Witz |first=Billy |title=Wooden's Legacy Extends Beyond Titles |date=June 6, 2010 |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/07/sports/ncaabasketball/07wooden.html |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240527110734/https://www.webcitation.org/6aWjeghsZ?url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/07/sports/ncaabasketball/07wooden.html%3F_r=0 |archivedate=May 27, 2024 |url-status=live }}

Professional career

The Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA) selected the {{convert|6|ft|2+1/2|in|m|2|adj=on}} Sweek in the seventh round of the 1969 NBA draft with the 86th overall pick.{{cite news|title=Bucks Draft Alcindor's Teammate|date=May 8, 1969|newspaper=Panama City News|agency=AP|page=16|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2920354/|accessdate=July 31, 2015|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}{{cite web|title=1969 NBA Draft|work=Basketball-Reference.com|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1969.html|accessdate=August 4, 2015}} He played professionally for Stade Français in Paris.{{cite book|last1=Jones|first1=Allen|last2=Naison|first2=Mark|title=The Rat that Got Away|page=170|year=2009|publisher=Fordham Univ Press|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v--PZsY14pYC&q=%22bill%20sweek%22%20france&pg=PA170|isbn=9780823231027|accessdate=July 31, 2015}} Sweek served in the Peace Corps, and also became a coach in Europe and Africa.{{cite news |last=Myers |first=Laura |title=Picking up more than splinters |date=June 13, 2010 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-jun-13-la-sp-wooden-role-players-20100613-story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151024165355/http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jun/13/sports/la-sp-wooden-role-players-20100613 |archive-date=October 24, 2015 |url-status=live }} One of the top coaches in France,{{cite news|title=The world of pro basketball|date=November 2, 1989|newspaper=Manila Standard|agency=AP|page=23|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dGcVAAAAIBAJ&pg=5847%2C314929|accessdate=July 31, 2015}} he led Le Mans Sarthe Basket to consecutive national titles in 1978 and 1979 after having guided Clermont UC to a women's national championship in 1977.{{cite web |title=Le Mans team profile |date=July 27, 2007 |work=euroleague.net |url=http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/13964/le-mans-team-profile |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925013524/http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/13964/le-mans-team-profile |archivedate=September 25, 2015 |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |last=Krasnoff |first=Lindsay Sarah |date=May 3, 2015 |title=French Basketball, from Cain to Batum |magazine=The New Yorker |url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/sporting-scene/french-basketball-from-cain-to-batum |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927223228/http://www.newyorker.com/news/sporting-scene/french-basketball-from-cain-to-batum |archivedate=September 27, 2015 |url-status=live }}{{cite book|title=HISTOIRE DU MSB / SCM|date=September 22, 2008|work=MSB.fr|language=French|url=http://www.msb.fr/index.php/club/historique|archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6aWl28hYR?url=http://www.msb.fr/index.php/club/historique|archivedate=August 4, 2015|url-status=live}} He also coached the Tunisia national basketball team.{{cite news|last=Gohlke|first=Rich|title=212 Victories in 10 Years|date=April 5, 1972|newspaper=The Argus|location=Fremont, California|page=14|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2916782/|accessdate=July 31, 2015|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}

Sweek was later a sales representative with Adidas,{{cite news |last=Jordan |first=Michael |title=For the Love of the Game |date=January 13, 1999 |work=CNN.com |url=http://www.cnn.com/books/beginnings/9901/jordan/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924192713/http://www.cnn.com/books/beginnings/9901/jordan/ |archivedate=September 24, 2015 |url-status=live }}{{cite book|last=Weiss|first=Dick|title=True Blue: A Tribute to Mike Krzyzewski's Career at Duke|year=2013|publisher=Skyhorse Publishing, Inc|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KMAOwyqSIdAC&q=%22bill%20sweek%22%20adidas&pg=PT35|isbn=9781613214176|accessdate=July 31, 2015}} and became the vice president of team sports with Virginia-based sports marketing firm ProServ, where he was also a sports agent.{{cite news |last=Wilbon |first=Michael |title=A BIG CHANCE FOR EVERYONE |date=September 17, 1993 |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1993/09/17/a-big-chance-for-everyone/96a85992-4afe-46d3-be49-38191b318aaf/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314094411/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1993/09/17/a-big-chance-for-everyone/96a85992-4afe-46d3-be49-38191b318aaf/ |archivedate=March 14, 2016 |url-status=live }}{{cite news|last=Gwin|first=Peter|title={{sic|nolink=y|reason=error in source|Translatlantic}}: How Europe is shaping US basketball hoops|date=June 1, 1997|work=Europe|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-19916792.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924150720/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-19916792.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 24, 2015|accessdate=August 4, 2015|via=Highbeam Research }} He represented European NBA players, as well as Americans interested in playing in Europe. Some of his clients included the {{convert|7|ft|7|in|m|adj=on}} Gheorghe Mureșan, the tallest player in NBA history,{{cite news |last=Casey |first=Tim |title=THE WIZARDS' WELCOMING GIANT |date=December 2, 2013 |work=Sports On Earth |url=http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/64318078/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924104921/http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/64318078/ |archivedate=September 24, 2015 |url-status=dead |access-date=August 4, 2015 }} Martin Müürsepp, John Amaechi,{{cite news |last=Johnson |first=K. C. |title=Bulls are plotting more moves |date=July 18, 2001 |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2001/07/18/bulls-are-plotting-more-moves/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304121818/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2001-07-18/sports/0107180330_1_bulls-salary-cap-bill-sweek |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=live }} Terry Davis,{{cite news |last=Bucher |first=Ric |title=FOR MANY WIZARDS, IT'S BUSINESS AS USUAL |date=July 1, 1998 |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1998/07/01/for-many-wizards-its-business-as-usual/2a0827c5-8793-4bb4-85bb-dd858a1265ba/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313152547/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1998/07/01/for-many-wizards-its-business-as-usual/2a0827c5-8793-4bb4-85bb-dd858a1265ba/ |archivedate=March 13, 2016 |url-status=live }} and Damon Bailey.{{cite news |last=Sokeland |first=Justin |title=Damon Bailey to France |newspaper=Times-Mail |url=http://ww.tmnews.com/stories/1997/02/03/archive.312769.tms |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240527110654/https://www.webcitation.org/6aWe2N1uT?url=http://ww.tmnews.com/stories/1997/02/03/archive.312769.tms |archivedate=May 27, 2024 |url-status=dead |access-date=August 4, 2015 }} Sweek was also a French interpreter for the Romanian Mureșan.{{cite news |last=Brennan |first=Christine |title=BIG BULLET SET TO GO |date=September 16, 1993 |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1993/09/16/big-bullet-set-to-go/f91c1976-9b08-4bb2-aaa6-e0822588c3b5/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314024102/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1993/09/16/big-bullet-set-to-go/f91c1976-9b08-4bb2-aaa6-e0822588c3b5/ |archivedate=March 14, 2016 |url-status=live }} While still at ProServ in 1996, he began coaching basketball at George Mason High School in Falls Church, Virginia.{{cite news |last=S and ler |first=Michael |title=GEORGE MASON BOYS 56, RAPPAHANNOCK COUNTY 51 |date=February 14, 1996 |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1996/02/14/george-mason-boys-56-rappahannock-county-51/cf86fe84-6a92-433d-b73e-ec0c93cf28e9/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313233919/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1996/02/14/george-mason-boys-56-rappahannock-county-51/cf86fe84-6a92-433d-b73e-ec0c93cf28e9/ |archivedate=March 13, 2016 |url-status=live }} By 2010, he had become a teacher in Sonoma, California, where he taught history, science and physical education.

Sweek played in a minor role in the 1971 movie Drive, He Said, which was directed by Jack Nicholson. Michael Warren, Sweek's former UCLA teammate who became an actor, was also in the film.{{cite news |title=Bill Sweek - Filmography |url=https://www.nytimes.com/movies/person/69320/Bill-Sweek/filmography |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325150617/http://www.nytimes.com/movies/person/69320/Bill-Sweek/filmography |archivedate=March 25, 2016 |department=Movies & TV Dept. |work=The New York Times |url-status=dead }}