Tom Schneider, a former Penn basketball coach, died of atherosclerotic heart disease on March 17. He was 68.

Mr. Schneider was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Bucknell University, where he was also a member of the basketball team. He then earned his master’s degree in history from Georgetown University. During his time at Georgetown, he began coaching basketball at American University.

Mr. Schneider came to Penn as an assistant coach in 1979 and held the position until 1983, when he became head coach at Lehigh University. He returned to Penn as head coach in 1985 and led the Quakers through four seasons before resigning in 1989 to become head coach at Loyola College (now Loyola University Maryland).

Mr. Schneider later coached basketball and taught history and economics at the high school level. For the last ten years, he taught history at Polk State Lakeland Collegiate High School in Lakeland, Florida.

Mr. Schneider is survived by his daughter, Leslie Schneider Boen, C’92, and two grandchildren. His wife, Carol, died 12 days prior to his own passing.

Donations may be made to Polk State College Foundation, 999 Avenue H, Northeast, Winter Haven, FL 33881-4299, ATTN: Thomas Schneider/Lakeland Collegiate High School.

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