The School of Social Work Basketball Dynasty

When people think of University of Pittsburgh athletes, the first person to come to mind is probably Kenny Pickett. Some may recall Aaron Donald, or Larry Fitzgerald. But Michael Whitelock?  

I’m sure few people think much about the hundreds of students who participate annually in intramural sports. But Pitt hosts teams not only in basketball, but also in flag football, soccer and volleyball; and it has waiting lists each year for many of the tournaments. According to Sean Scott, intramural sports coordinator, in the fall, there can be 50-60 teams competing, and 30 on the wait list. There are men’s teams, co-ed teams  and women’s teams. With 5-12 players on each basketball team. Some teams are organized as “competitive” while others are “recreational.” And many former high school stars compete, but college players have to wait for a year before signing up.  

But the story of this dynasty is one for the record books. In 1980-81, a team organized by Michael Whitelock, then a graduate student, compiled a record of 20 wins and no losses, winning the graduate/faculty division and the All University division of Pitt’s intramural league two years in a row. I know, because I played on that team; and we have a photograph to prove it. 

This team is so special not only because it comprised both students and faculty (Dr. William Pollard, who was then a professor and later went on to serve as president of two universities, played on the team) but to my knowledge, this was the only time in Pitt intramural history when a woman (Roslyn Head-Lyons) not only played, but actually scored. Head-Lyons recalls that she was fouled while shooting and missed her first free throw but swished the second.

Not everyone who played on the team, affectionately dubbed “Whitelock’s Dynasty” in honor of the team captain and organizer, was a full-time social work student. Some of the players were enrolled in other schools, but all were taking at least one class in the School of Social Work. Whitelock played on Pitt’s Junior Varsity and was known for his speed and ball handling

The team had a semi-regular cheering section. Students and faculty members occasionally attended games, especially at play-off time. Dr. Moe Coleman was one of the more regular fans. Moe, somewhat of an athlete in his own right (tennis and softball) thoroughly enjoyed watching his students dispatch other teams, including the law school in the championship game both years.

But Social Work has been a welcoming home to a number of other athletes. COSA director and professor Tracy Soska frequently joined with me and our classmate John Scotland in pick-up and recreational league games at the Centre Avenue YMCA and the Allegheny Center Presbyterian Church on the Northside. 

Other Social Work students garnered much more fame. Chris Handles Franklin went on to play for the Harlem Globetrotters. Charles Small played for Pitt and once went one-on-one with LeBron James. This was especially notable because Small really was small – only 5’7”.

What are they doing now? Michael Whitelock has spent his career as a field officer with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.  Dr. Pollard headed the Social Work School at Syracuse University, then became president of the University of the District of Columbia and ended his career as the president of Medgar Evers College at the City University of New York. I found my calling in downtown development, working in Pittsburgh, Kalamazoo, Detroit and Des Moines, before leading the International Downtown Association for a decade.  Others pursued different career paths. Some teammates I could’t find. Two have passed away. 

So for all current and future Social Work students and friends, remember – the School of Social Work was once the monarch of the intramural basketball world at Pitt. We made history.