Forfeited games led to rare blemish on Warren Friedrichs’ Whitworth coaching career

The 1985-86 season, Warren Friedrichs’ first as head coach, stands as a blemish for the Whitworth men’s basketball program: 3-28.

But next to that record – the worst for a program dating back to 1940-41 – is a caret, one that leads to a note: “includes forfeited games.”

Rod Lee, the team’s fifth-leading scorer at 11.1 points per game, played 20 games that season. But it wasn’t until March that season he and the team realized two classes he took previously at Spokane Community College were deemed too similar to both count toward his transfer requirements.

The whole situation was brought to light because Lee failed a January Term class, according to reports at the time in The Whitworthian, the student newspaper.

Lee shouldn’t have been eligible, but he had played in nine victories (and 11 losses) anyway.

Whitworth had to forfeit them all. Friedrichs’ official record as coach is 251-195, the most victories in program history.