Tom Gola Plaza

Tom Gola Plaza is at the "front porch" of the La Salle Athletics Center and will be seen by all who enter en route to the new John Glaser Arena.

In front of over 200 students, faculty, Christian Brothers, donors, alumni, and friends, La Salle University opened Tom Gola Plaza in September 2024. The area to the west of the La Salle Athletics Center, in which the arena is housed, has been dramatically renovated and will take the name Tom Gola Plaza, paying homage to the Philadelphia basketball Icon.

Gola, who passed away in 2014 at the age of 81, earned his place in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1976 and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006 for his storied career at La Salle and the NBA. He led the Explorers to a 1954 NCAA championship and maintains the record for most rebounds in collegiate basketball with 2,201. He continued his career in the NBA and played for the Philadelphia Warriors where he helped lead the NBA franchise to a 1956 Championship in his home city.

After his playing career in the NBA, Gola returned to his alma mater in a different role, head coach. In the 1968 season, Gola led the Blue & Gold to a 23-1 record and would end his coaching career at La Salle with an overall record of 37-13.