Men's basketball has been one of the most successful programs in the history of Colby College athletics.
Whitmore and Williams are two of the coaching names that have defined the program. Dick Whitmore, who will enter his 36th season as Colby head coach in 2006-07, is one of the most successful NCAA Division III coaches in the history of the game with his overall record of 562-291. Whitmore has had 12 players earn 16 All-America honors since 1975, and the team has numerous NCAA and ECAC tournament appearances.
Lee Williams ran the program from 1946 to 1965 and had a career record of 253-212. Williams led Colby to nine straight Maine Intercollegiate Athletic Association titles from 1951 to 1959.
Men's basketball was introduced at Colby in 1936, and Ed Roundy was the first head coach. There was no team during the 1943-44 and 1944-45 academic years due to World War II. Ted Shiro '51, who played from 1948 to 1951, was the first Colby player to reach 1,000 career points. Shiro is still 13th all-time in career points with 1,212. Matt Hancock '90 is the lone three-time All-America selection and remains Colby's all-time leading scorer with 2,678 points in 1987-90.
Women's basketball started as a program in 1968, but the team did not start playing full seasons until the 1976-77 academic year under head coach Gene De Lorenzo '75.
Colby turned the corner in women's basketball under De Lorenzo's leadership, and he posted a 209-144 record from 1976 to 1991. De Lorenzo coached some of the program's top players, including Kodak National All-American and all-time leading scorer Kaye Cross '84 (1,452 career points).
Sarah Walsh '03 earned Kodak National All-America honors in 2002-03 and became Colby's all-time leader in rebounding (1,022) and steals (245).
