Note: This is the third of a four-part series on Rose-Hulman's 100 seasons of men's basketball.  Parts one and two are available on the 100th season of basketball website.  The current Jim Shaw era will be featured Jan. 31.

TERRE HAUTE, IND. - The all-time winningest coach in Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology history also helped the Fightin' Engineers earn their place on a global scale during his 25-year coaching career.

John Mutchner tallied 341 victories as head coach at Rose Poly and Rose-Hulman from 1963-88.  His efforts included the first two 20-win seasons in school history and the college's best single-season performance in 100 seasons of basketball.

The 1976-77 Rose-Hulman squad finished with a 24-4 record under Mutchner and advanced to the NCAA Division III Quarterfinals.  The season included 21 consecutive victories and NCAA Division III Tournament wins over Knoxville and Transylvania.

Mutchner's accolades included six conference championships and a seven-year span that featured a record of 130-63 from 1975-82.

Mutchner's true legacy involved his off the court contributions to both the college and its programs.  Due to his efforts, Rose-Hulman was the first United States college basketball team to play in the Soviet Union.  His efforts included numerous trips to Hawaii, Europe and Asia over his 25 seasons.

His other innovations included bringing a unique pregame atmosphere to Shook Fieldhouse.  The pregame consisted of a cannon fired in the northeast corner of the Fieldhouse, along with a siren indicating the team was taking the floor.  The combination helped create a festive atmosphere for the next generation of games in Shook Fieldhouse.

In addition to his basketball duties, Mutchner also served as athletic director, tennis coach and baseball coach at Rose Poly and Rose-Hulman during his coaching career.

Mutchner currently resides in Terre Haute and will be in attendance at the 100th season of basketball celebration on Feb. 9.  The college has begun an Appreciation Scholarship Drive in honor of Coach Mutchner.  Interested donors can visit the Annual Fund website and designate your gift to the John Mutchner Scholarship Fund.