SYLVANIA — Lourdes University has announced that Gray Wolves basketball head coach Dennis Hopson, a former Bowling Green State University assistant coach, will have a street named after him.
On Saturday, Dennis Hopson Way will be dedicated at the corner of Dorr Street and Elysian Avenue, near where his childhood home was located.
“My family and I are overly excited about this special day,” Hopson said. “It’s a wonderful thing to be able to share this moment with the people that have helped shape me into the person I am today.”
“Dennis has given back to our community and encouraged so many young people to be the best they can be through his coaching of basketball,” stated the Dorr/Secor Neighborhood Association in announcing this honor.
A native of Toledo, Hopson arrived at Lourdes University with more than 30 years of basketball coaching, recruiting and playing experience.
Having played in the NBA for five seasons, he was the third pick overall in the 1987 NBA Draft by the New Jersey Nets, where he played for three years.
Hopson also had stints with the Chicago Bulls, where he won a NBA Championship, and the Sacramento Kings. Following his NBA career, Hopson played seven more years in Europe.
Upon retiring from his playing career, Hopson was a regional scout for the Philadelphia 76ers in 2003-04 before moving into the coaching ranks.
In his three seasons at Lourdes, Hopson has led the Gray Wolves to a 53-25 record. In 2019-20, his first at Lourdes, he led the team to a tie for third place in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference standings, matching the highest finish in program history. Lourdes was ranked as high as 13th in the NAIA Division II national poll in mid-January.
Hopson’s 2021-22 squad also tied for third in the WHAC regular season standings before capturing the WHAC tournament title, its first in program history.
Hopson has produced four CoSIDA Academic All-District I First Team honorees as well as nine members on the WHAC All-Academic Team. He also has produced seven NAIA Scholar-Athletes.
Prior to Lourdes, Hopson coached at Northwood University, and locally at Bedford High School and at BGSU.
The Ohio State Buckeyes’ all-time leading scorer and hall of famer also served as director of basketball operations for the YMCA of Greater Toledo.
The Bowsher High School graduate established Hopson Elite, an AAU basketball program.
Hopson received his bachelor of education in sports and leisure studies from Ohio State in 2006.
