taking out your pitcher, who's probably 30." Collegiate playing career In 1952, Fitzsimmons enrolled at Hannibal-LaGrange College (HLG), then a junior college in Hannibal, Missouri. Fitzsimmons became a junior-college All-American, averaging 25.5 points a game at Hannibal-LaGrange (where his jersey is now retired). He led the team to the NJCAA Tournament. Fitzsimmons left Missouri to attend Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas. There, he averaged 13.3 points over 82 games and scored a career 1,095 points, while helping the Mustangs to the NAIA Tournament quarterfinals in 1956. Fitzsimmons turned down an offer to play AAU basketball for the Akron Goodyear Wingfoots and remained at Midwestern State after graduation to earn a master's degree in administrative education. He decided his ambition was to become a professional basketball coach. Collegiate coaching career Moberly Junior College (1958–1967) After earning his degrees at Midwestern State, Fitzsimmons returned to Missouri. He accepted the position as head coach at Moberly Junior College in Moberly, Missouri in 1958, replacing Maury John. Fitzsimmons coached for nine seasons (1958–1967) at Moberly, with a record of 223–59 (.790). When asked in his interview how long he planned to stay at Moberly if hired, "“I gave him the dumbest answer I ever gave anyone,” he said, “I told him I’d be there till we won two titles in a row.” Fitzsimmons proceeded to finish his tenure at Moberly with back-to-back NJCAA National Championships, in 1966 and 1967. Kansas State University (1967–1970) Fitzsimmons was hired by Kansas State University, serving as an assistant coach in 1967–1968 under Head Coach Tex Winter. There he learned the Triangle Offense from Winter, who left after the season for Washington and recommended Fitzsimmons to replace him. In 1968, he was named Head Coach at Kansas State. Fitzsimmons' first team at KSU finished 14–12. In 1969–1970, The Wildcats went a surprising 20–8, capturing the Big 8 Conference Championship. He was named 1970 Big 8 Coach of the Year and led the Wildcats to the Sweet Sixteen of the 1970 NCAA tournament. Fitzsimmons then moved to the NBA with the Phoenix Suns. NBA coaching/administrative career Phoenix Suns I (1970–1972) In 1970, Fitzsimmons replaced Jerry Colangelo as head coach of the Phoenix Suns. It was Colangelo, serving as General Manager, who sought Fitzsimmons for the position. At first Colangelo had called Fitzsimmons and asked about other possible candidates. Eventually, Colangelo asked Fitzsimmons, “How would you like the job?”