CREDIT: FANSHAWE ATHLETICS
The Fanshawe Falcons national basketball champions and London Sports Hall of Fame team inductees will be honoured in a halftime ceremony during the Falcons’ game on January 31.

It's not every day someone gets inducted into any hall of fame.

Former men's basketball coach Glenn Johnston and his 1980/81 teams were inducted into the London Sports Hall of Fame, which was announced back in May 2013 — an honour bestowed onto the men because of their remarkable back-to-back national championship titles in those years.

On January 31, Fanshawe will be honouring these teams during halftime of the Fanshawe/Redeemer basketball game which tips off at 8 p.m.

“This type of achievement doesn't happen every day,” said athletic officer Ernie Durocher. “I think people of the College thought this would be a good type of ceremony to recognize this achievement.”

Coach Johnston insisted it isn't a “me” thing.

“I think it was a team thing, and that was a very special group of guys,” he said. “They accomplished something very few teams have ever done.”

“Winning Ontario championships is rare. Winning back-toback national championships is scarce.”

Johnston credited the team's work ethic as what ultimately got them to the top.

“They were very dedicated, they were hard working. They played great together. They shared the ball,” he said. “We beat teams maybe we shouldn't have beat; it was simply because they worked harder and they were a tough bunch of guys.”

“They weren't taking no for an answer.”

Johnston's winning mentality may have also helped.

“If you don't plan on winning, then you're short-changing your team,” he said. “I think a coach's job is to give his team an opportunity. You create an environment where they can be successful and that's your job.”

Despite his accomplishments — like the Hall of Fame and having the Athletic Centre named after him — Johnston remains humble.

“It was all a surprise to me — the gym, the Hall of Fame. It's a terrific honour for the team,” he said. “I probably laughed initially because you think, ‘Gee, that's terrific and unexpected.' But the second thing is, you call a few people and you thank them because it is special.”

“We're the first Fanshawe team to go into the London Hall of Fame,” said Durocher. “I think it's a great thing. Any time that Fanshawe can be honoured ... is fantastic.”

“Hopefully this just opens floodgates.”

Johnston opened up about how coaching may have cost him a lot of money, he wouldn't have changed anything.

“It was worth every penny ... I met a lot of great people and it was certainly rewarding,” he said.

The ceremony will take place at half time of the January 31 basketball game in the Glenn Johnston Athletic Centre. The game starts at 8 p.m.