Hall of Fame
He was a third baseman with the Cornell baseball team, earning letters in 1942 and 1943. He then served with the U.S. Army during World War II and took part in several campaigns, including the African Campaign and the D-Day invasion of France. He returned to the University and served as co-captain of the 1946 baseball team and earned another letter. But it was in basketball where he made his name. Steitz, as secretary and editor of the men's basketball rules committee of the NCAA for 20 years, and the U.S. representative to the international basketball rules committee, was recognized as the leading authority on the rules of basketball and was involved in most of college basketball rules changes over the years, including the introduction of the three-point shot in 1987 and the 45-second shot clock in 1976, the elimination of the jump ball except at the start of the game in 1981, and the reinstatement of the dunk shot in 1976. He joined the faculty at Springfield College in 1948, coached men's basketball there from 1956-1966 and compiled a 185-86 win-loss record. His teams never experienced a losing season. He was director of athletics at Springfield for 33 years until his retirement in 1989. Steitz was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1984 for his contributions to the game and was one of the founders of the Hall of Fame in 1959. He was also a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee's executive committee, a longtime member of the NCAA executive committee, and past president of the Eastern College Athletic Association. Steitz was a resident of East Longmeadow, Mass.
