Pete Von Allmen, an assistant women's basketball coach at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, passed away September 25. Visitation will be Wednesday, September 30 from 4:00 to 8:00 at Nitardy Funeral Home at 1008 Madison Avenue in Fort Atkinson. A social gathering will begin at Fat Boyz at 219 South Main Street in Fort Atkinson at 6:00, with an open microphone for stories and reflection at 7:30.
"I don't know what to say," said UW-W head coach
Keri Carollo. "This is a great loss to our program and to basketball in the state of Wisconsin."
Von Allmen joined the UW-Whitewater staff for the 2004-2005 season, Carollo's third at UW-W. He helped Whitewater win the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title in 2008, compiling a 29-4 record while advancing the Final Four of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III Tournament, where the team placed third. Last year's team also earned a NCAA berth while going 23-5.
“Pete was one of the kindest, most patient, loving coaches I have ever worked with," UW-W director of athletics Dr. Paul Plinske said. "He cared more about others than he did himself. I truly believe that his positive impact on our women's basketball program will be felt for many years. He is most definitely a coaching legend. More importantly, he was a wonderful person that will be greatly missed.”
Von Allmen is one of the most successful coaches in Wisconsin high school basketball history. He directed Hartland (Wis.) Arrowhead High School for seventeen years, leading them to six league championships and Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Class A titles in 1988 and 1991. Although he continued teaching in Hartland, Von Allmen moved his seat on the coaching bench to Fort Atkinson (Wis.) for the 1993-94 season. In his nine years at the school he won three conference championships.
Von Allmen, who went 454-154 in the high school ranks, was elected to the Wisconsin High School Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2004.
Even when he stepped away from the high school scene, Von Allmen couldn't leave basketball. He served as an assistant women's coach at Beloit College for two years, and spent the last five at UW-Whitewater.
Von Allmen graduated from Monroe (Wis.) High School and received his bachelor's degree from UW-La Crosse in 1966. He earned a master's degree from UW-Whitewater in 1990.
For additional information on Pete Von Allmen see the story written by Jeff Seisser, Sports Editor, Daily Jefferson County Union 9-25-2009, and Monday's edition of the Daily Union. Our thanks to Jeff Seisser for his cooperation with this story
