United States Merchant Marine Academy

George Edward “Skip” Prosser was a letterman withthe Kings Point basketball team.  Though, not theAcademy’s leading scorer, it was his qualities of honesty,integrity, and determination that served Prosser throughout hisbasketball career.  After receiving his USMMA degree, he wenton to earn a Master’s in education and to become one of themost respected basketball coaches in the NCAA.  He is the onlycoach in NCAA Championship history to lead three different schoolsto the tournament in his first season at each institution (Loyola,MD; Xavier, & Wake Forest).  He compiled a career recordof 291-146 in his 14 years as a head coach at the Division-Ilevel. 

Prosser put together a 126-68 record in his six seasons with theDemon Deacons of Wake Forest and led the team to five post-seasonappearances, which included trips to the NCAA Championships. As head coach, he also led the program to its first-ever number oneranking and a school-record 27 wins in 2004-05.  Additionally,Prosser was named ACC Coach of the Year in 2003.  The SkipProsser ’72 Achievement Award was created to honor Prosser,who believed in “Service Before Self” and exemplifiedthe USMMA motto, “Acta Non Verba.”  He passed awayon July 26, 2007 of a sudden heart attack.