“Since he’s been here, I’ve been very impressed by
his work ethic and attention to detail and the way
he has thrown himself into this environment,” said
Keith Baker
, GCU’s director of athletics. “He’s
been very intent on doing things the right way and
working with our compliance people.”
The work ethic, Majerle said, is a testament to his
parents and the way he was raised.
His father,
Frank
, was a single-chair barber who awoke
at 5 a.m. every day and worked until 6 or 7 at night
standing and cutting hair. His mom,
Sallie
, was a part-
time secretary and full-time chauffeur for three boys
who played football, basketball, baseball and hockey.
“I remember following my dad around everywhere.
He’d play softball or in a YMCA basketball league,
and me and my brothers would be batboys or
watch him play and always be around some kind of
activities,” Majerle said.
Sallie wasn’t an athlete, but Majerle said “she used to
do bounce passes to me in the kitchen.”
Which means they were allowed to throw the ball in
the house?
“Oh yeah, she knew better. She had three boys,”
Majerle said. “We didn’t have a lot of money or
anything, but they did everything they could to
manage three boys and make sure we had whatever
they could give us. … I saw them working as hard as
they can to make it work for us and I grew up not
knowing any different. That’s how you’re supposed
to get it done.”
Majerle is confident that work ethic and competitive
drive and the success he had in the NBA will translate
to success as GCU enters into Division I athletics
beginning in 2013-14.
“You look around the nation today, there are a lot of
mid-majors that are great colleges,” Majerle said. “I
think this is a university that can be a Gonzaga or a
Butler or a team like that. That’s why I’m stepping in
and why I think we can do it. … It may take a little
time, but we’ll take some steps in the right direction
and we’ll get there.”
Judging by how fast Majerle ran that mile, GCU may
get there sooner than you think.
■
Oct. 7, 1995
Traded along with Antonio
Lang and a conditional
first-round draft pick to
the Cleveland Cavaliers for
John “Hot Rod” Williams.
Aug. 22, 1996
Signed as a free agent
with the Miami Heat.
Was a member of Dream Team
II, the U.S. basketball squad
that won gold at the World
Championship of Basketball in
Ontario, Canada.
Summer, 1994
Member of Suns team that
won Western Conference
championship before falling to
Chicago Bulls in NBA Finals.
1992-93
Opened Majerle’s Sports Grill in downtown
Phoenix. Today, there are four Majerle’s
restaurants across the Valley.
December, 1992
2008-2013
Served as an assistant
coach for the Suns.
March 18, 2013
Hired as Grand Canyon University’s
men’s basketball coach.
Jan. 21, 2013
Left Suns after
being bypassed
for head coaching
position when Alvin
Gentry was fired.
Nov. 1, 2006
Inducted into the Michigan
Sports Hall of Fame.
March 9, 2003
Inducted into the Suns’ Ring of Honor. At the
ceremony, Suns Chairman Jerry Colangelo
announced the creation of the Dan Majerle Hustle
Award, explaining, “When you think of Dan Majerle,
you think of a guy who gave maximum effort in
every game, every practice, in everything he did.
It is this work ethic that inspired the creation of
the award.” It is given annually to a Suns player
exemplifying those attributes.
Began first of four seasons as
an analyst on Suns television
broadcasts. Also worked for TNT
during the 2003 NBA playoffs.
October, 2002
Sank his Suns franchise-record 800th and final
career 3-pointer with 25 seconds remaining in
the season finale vs. Dallas. He retired as a player
following the game and ranks sixth in league history
with 1,360 3-pointers made. He also holds the NBA
Finals record with 17 3-pointers made in a series
against Chicago in 1993.
April 17, 2002
Signed as a free
agent with the Suns.
July 19, 2001
Hit nine 3-pointers vs.
Minnesota Timberwolves.
Jan. 11, 2000
Photo by Barry Gossage/Phoenix Suns
Photos by Darryl Webb
Photo by Chris Covatta/NBA
