Fran Dunphy deserves place in Big 5 Hall of Fame now

IT'S TIME.

Time to do the right thing. For a most deserving guy, for all the obvious reasons.

From 1982-2006, John Chaney went 516-253 at Temple. It's the most wins by any coach in Big 5 history. But not for much longer. Soon, the record will belong to Chaney's successor on North Broad. Now in his 10th season, Fran Dunphy is 204-115 with the Owls. After going 310-163 at Penn. Which means that he's three victories away from passing a legend. And even at 67, it's like not he's retiring tomorrow. Besides, he continues to look much younger, especially now that he's no longer sporting his trademark mustache.

So why isn't Dunph, as he's universally known, in the Big 5 Hall of Fame? Particularly when it seems like almost everyone else who's had a decent career is. Of course he's going to get enshrined someday. But why not sooner? Dick Jerardi and I raised this point a few years ago to the powers that be, and it seems there's a stipulation that someone has to be retired before it can happen. I say it's time to break the rules. Because it simply makes sense. What more reason do you need?

It should have happened already. A lot of people were hoping it could have happened before his mother passed away in June 2013. That would have meant a great deal to both of them. But apparently it wasn't meant to be. Which is a shame, since you easily could have made the case that Dunphy had done more than enough by then to join the club.

Is there anyone who's been more a part of city hoops than him? As a junior at La Salle, he was the first backcourt sub (behind future pros Bernie Williams and Roland "Fatty" Taylor) on a 23-1 team that many still consider to be the Big 5's best ever. The following season, when he was a co-captain, he averaged 18.6 points (second on team behind Big 5 Player of the Year Kenny Durrett), led the Explorers in assists and was the MVP of the annual Quaker City Tournament.

Dunph got his Master's degree from Villanova in 1979. He was an assistant at his alma mater for four seasons, first under Lefty Ervin and later Speedy Morris. In his second stint he helped recruit Lionel Simmons to 20th and Olney. In 1989 he went to Penn, where he inherited a program that hadn't won more than 15 games in any of the previous six seasons. Four years later he won the first of 10 Ivy League championships (in 14 seasons), with a backcourt of Jerome Allen and Matt Maloney.

When it finally became time for Temple to replace Chaney, there were those who weren't convinced that Dunphy was the right choice. And there are some who remain skeptcial, for whatever reasons. But when Dunphy arrived the Owls hadn't been to the NCAA Tournament in five seasons. In his second season they won the first of three consecutive Atlantic 10 titles, something even Chaney never did. He's beaten a Top 10 opponent in seven of the last eight seasons. When they were 9-22 in 2013-14 they still managed to knock off ranked SMU late.

If Dunphy had won a few more NCAA Tournament games, there would understandably be less scrutiny of his resume. So be it. Many of his Penn teams weren't supposed to win. There was a four-point loss to John Calipari and Massachusetts in 1993, an overtimer against Antonio McDyess and Alabama in 1995, and the 2003 game in which they were tied with Oklahoma State with eight minutes left. (The same OSU that would lead eventual national champ Syracuse in the next round by 17 in the first half.) Or even his last one with Penn three years later, where they were down one with 5 minutes to go vs. LaMarcus Aldridge and Texas - in Dallas.

But the last thing Dunphy - who went to double OT with San Diego State and Kawhi Leonard in 2011 despite being down two starters - needs is defending. He's never made excuses. And he'd probably tell you that he should have made it to a Sweet 16 or two along the way.

Didn't happen. But he's not done yet.

Ask any of his colleagues and they'll tell you Dunphy can "X" and "0" with the best. And it seems like his reputation around the country is even better than it is here. He's old-school and loyal, sometimes maybe to a fault. Nobody questions his integrity. And he's a role model of an ambassador, for his school and the Big 5 as an institution. Not to mention his work with the Coaches for Cancer cause, which goes way beyond anything he's accomplished on the court.

It's almost impossible to find many who've done more. And perhaps the best part about Dunph is, it's never about him. So why wait? His unique journey should be celebrated for everything it's been. Because there doesn't figure to be another one quite like it, at least not any time soon. It's nothing short of first-ballot stuff.

If good friend Phil Martelli lets him sit on the Saint Joseph's bench for a game, it would make Dunph's city-wide affiliation complete. Just a thought.

This year, the Big 5 correctly decided to honor the best team from each school as its inductees for the 60th anniversary. Former Penn athletic director Steve Bilsky is the man in charge these days. And he's done a commendable job trying to put together more Big 5 doubleheaders or possibly even a tournament to stoke interest in something specifically special to Philly's DNA. Next year he should make an exception. Put Dunphy in. Do it because he belongs. Coaches go into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame when they're still active. I can understand why such a protocol exists. But the time has come to break precedent. It's the only right thing to do.

kernm@phillynews.com

On Twitter: @mikekerndn