University of Massachusets Athletics
Hall of Fame
Al Skinner
- Induction:
- 1982
- Class:
- 1974
A three-time letterwinner in basketball, Skinner led the team in rebounding from 1972-74, totaling 749 boards.
In addition to his prowess on the glass, Skinner set a school record for highest career field goal percentage at UMass (.557) and for single-season field goal percentage (.620), records he held for nearly 20 years.
Skinner was a three-time first-team all-Yankee Conference selection, and helped UMass to a pair of Yankee Conference titles.
Skinner led the Yankee Conference in scoring during 1974, averaging 18.7 points per game. He was the eighth player in school history to join the 1,000-point club, finishing his career with 1,235 points.
Upon completion of his UMass career, Skinner went on to play professionally. A ninth-round pick by the Celtics in 1974, Skinner wound up playing for the New York Nets of the American Basketball Association, where he was named to the ABA's All-Rookie Team.
Following his playing career, Skinner went into coaching. He began with an assistant coaching role at Marist (1982–84) followed by a similar role at Rhode Island (1984-88).
Skinner was promoted to head coach at Rhode Island in 1988, a role he held until 1997. While at URI, Skinner led the Rams to three 20-win seasons, a pair of NCAA berths (1993, '97) and two NIT appearances (1992, '96).
Skinner accepted the head coaching position at Boston College in 1997 and remained the Eagles' leader through the 2009-10 season. In his 13 years at BC, Skinner's squad made seven NCAA tournaments, including a trip to the 2006 NCAA Sweet Sixteen.
After leaving Boston College following the 2009-10 season, Skinner coached as an assist at Bryant University from 2013–2015 and as the Kennesaw State head coach from 2015-19.
He was inducted into the UMass Athletics Hall of Fame in 1982.
In addition to his prowess on the glass, Skinner set a school record for highest career field goal percentage at UMass (.557) and for single-season field goal percentage (.620), records he held for nearly 20 years.
Skinner was a three-time first-team all-Yankee Conference selection, and helped UMass to a pair of Yankee Conference titles.
Skinner led the Yankee Conference in scoring during 1974, averaging 18.7 points per game. He was the eighth player in school history to join the 1,000-point club, finishing his career with 1,235 points.
Upon completion of his UMass career, Skinner went on to play professionally. A ninth-round pick by the Celtics in 1974, Skinner wound up playing for the New York Nets of the American Basketball Association, where he was named to the ABA's All-Rookie Team.
Following his playing career, Skinner went into coaching. He began with an assistant coaching role at Marist (1982–84) followed by a similar role at Rhode Island (1984-88).
Skinner was promoted to head coach at Rhode Island in 1988, a role he held until 1997. While at URI, Skinner led the Rams to three 20-win seasons, a pair of NCAA berths (1993, '97) and two NIT appearances (1992, '96).
Skinner accepted the head coaching position at Boston College in 1997 and remained the Eagles' leader through the 2009-10 season. In his 13 years at BC, Skinner's squad made seven NCAA tournaments, including a trip to the 2006 NCAA Sweet Sixteen.
After leaving Boston College following the 2009-10 season, Skinner coached as an assist at Bryant University from 2013–2015 and as the Kennesaw State head coach from 2015-19.
He was inducted into the UMass Athletics Hall of Fame in 1982.
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