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Billy Langloh

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Billy Langloh
Personal information
BornLaurel, Maryland, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High schoolDeMatha Catholic High School (Hyattsville, Maryland)
CollegeVirginia (1973–1977)
NBA draft1977: 5th round, 100th overall pick
Drafted byBoston Celtics
PositionGuard
Coaching career1986–2004
Career history
As a player:
1973–1977Virginia Cavaliers
As a coach:
1986–1990West Springfield HS (assistant, girls)
1990–1995Our Lady of Good Counsel HS (head coach, girls)
2001–2004Seattle SuperSonics (scout)
Career highlights
  • All-Met selection (1973)
  • ACC Tournament Champion (1976)
  • ACC Tournament semifinal standout (1976)
  • City Title champion (1995, coach – Good Counsel)
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Billy Langloh is an American former college basketball player who starred as a 6 ft 3 in guard for the Virginia Cavaliers from 1973 to 1977. In 108 career games, he averaged 11.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game.[1] Langloh helped lead Virginia to its first-ever ACC Tournament title in 1976 and was selected by the Boston Celtics in the fifth round of the 1977 NBA draft.[1] [2]

Early life and high school

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Langloh grew up in Laurel, Maryland, and attended DeMatha Catholic High School, where he developed into a standout guard. His success at DeMatha led to a scholarship offer from the University of Virginia, where he enrolled in 1973.[3]

College career

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Langloh played four seasons for Virginia, appearing in 108 career games. He averaged 11.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game and shot 46.6% from the field.[1] His junior and senior years were his most productive, averaging over 13 points per game in both seasons.[1]

In 1976, Langloh played a pivotal role in helping Virginia win its first-ever ACC Tournament title, including a 20-point performance in the semifinal win over Maryland. The victory secured the Cavaliers’ automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament and became known as the “Miracle in Landover.”[4]

In a surprise run through the 1976 ACC Tournament, Virginia leaned on veteran guard Billy Langloh, whose 20-point performance in the semifinal and steady presence helped guide the team to its first-ever championship—an achievement remembered as the "Miracle in Landover." VirginiaSports.com.[4]

“Miracle in Landover” (1976 ACC Tournament)

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Virginia’s 1976 ACC Tournament run marked a historic breakthrough for the program. Entering as a No. 6 seed, the Cavaliers defeated Clemson, Maryland, and the No. 4 North Carolina Tar Heels over three days to capture the school's first-ever ACC title and NCAA Tournament berth. Langloh's 20-point effort in the semifinal against Maryland, followed by critical free throws in the final minutes of the championship, cemented his legacy as the tournament's unsung hero.[4][5]

Langloh and senior Wally Walker anchored a young Virginia team that had gone winless against the top three ACC squads during the regular season. However, their resilient play shocked the field. Langloh’s backcourt leadership, particularly in controlling tempo against Maryland’s speedy guards and his clutch free throws against UNC, were instrumental in the championship win. Virginia's upset over UNC, sealed by Langloh's free throws in the final seconds, delivered the Cavaliers’ first ACC crown and a place in the NCAA Tournament. The title run has remained one of the most celebrated achievements in program history.[5]

1976 ACC Tournament key game stats
Game Opponent Result Langloh points Halftime score Final score
Semifinal Maryland (No. 9) Win 20 – Advance
Final North Carolina (No. 4) Win 5 FTs in final 34 secs 35–30 (UVA) 67–62

College career statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
Season Team Conf. Class GP FG% FT% RPG APG PPG
1973–74 Virginia ACC FR 27 .463 .662 2.1 2.8 8.7
1974–75 Virginia ACC SO 25 .454 .727 3.0 2.4 9.8
1975–76 Virginia ACC JR 29 .469 .778 4.6 2.9 14.1
1976–77 Virginia ACC SR 27 .473 .660 3.2 2.5 13.0
Career 108 – – 316 280 1,243

Langloh’s collegiate statistics are available via Sports-Reference.[1]

Professional prospects

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Langloh was chosen by the Boston Celtics with the 100th overall pick in the fifth round of the 1977 NBA draft.[2] He signed a contract with the team in July 1977, but was released prior to the start of the regular season and did not play in any NBA games.[6]

That year’s draft included significantly more rounds than modern drafts, and the Celtics made several other late-round selections, including Skip Johnson (Wake Forest), Jeff Cummings (Tulane), Roy Pace (Rutgers), Dave Kyle (Cleveland State), and Tom Harris (Bowling Green). None of those players ultimately played for the franchise, which was common for later-round picks during that period. [2]

NBA transaction timeline
Date Transaction Ref.
June 10, 1977 Selected by Boston Celtics in Round 5 (12th pick, 100th overall) [2]
July 26, 1977 Signed multi-year contract with Boston Celtics [6]
October 7, 1977 Celtics placed Langloh’s contract on waivers [6]
October 9, 1977 Became a free agent after release by Boston [6]

Coaching career

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In November 1994, Langloh was appointed as head coach of the girls' basketball team at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Wheaton, Maryland, transitioning from his role as an assistant coach at West Springfield High School in Virginia.[7]

During his 1994–95 season at Good Counsel, he led the Falcons to a 26–3 record, captured the City Title, and secured a No. 2 area ranking—marking the most successful season in school history. Langloh resigned in September 1995 due to not receiving a full-time position at the school.[8]

Before his tenure at Good Counsel, from 1986 to 1994, Langloh served as an assistant girls’ basketball coach at West Springfield. He left the position in 1994 after his contract was not renewed due to involvement in off-season summer coaching, which violated Virginia High School League Northern Region rules at the time.[9]

By 2001, Langloh had taken on a scouting role with the Seattle SuperSonics, attending nearly every girls' high school game for West Springfield as part of his duties. His position served as a liaison under general manager Wally Walker, who had played with Langloh at Virginia.[10]

Awards and honors

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Year Honor Organization Ref.
1973 All-Met Basketball Team The Washington Post [11]
1976 ACC Tournament Champion Virginia Cavaliers [12]
1976 ACC Tournament Semifinal Star (20 points vs Maryland) Atlantic Coast Conference [13]
1995 City Title Champion (coach – Good Counsel) Our Lady of Good Counsel HS [14]

Media coverage

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  • Sports Illustrated praised Langloh’s late-game poise and free-throw shooting during the 1976 ACC championship, crediting his play as essential in Virginia's upset over North Carolina.[15]
  • The Washington Post profiled Langloh’s ACC Tournament run in a March 6, 1977, feature, noting that he was “the glue of this Virginia team,” managing tempo and contributing 20 points against Maryland in the semifinals.[16]
  • The Washington Post previewed Maryland's 1977–78 basketball season by referencing Langloh’s performance in the prior ACC semifinal, citing his backcourt leadership as critical to Virginia’s win.[17]
  • The Washington Post quoted Langloh in a 1995 article discussing security concerns following a disturbance at a girls’ basketball game, reflecting his continued presence in high school athletics and safety roles.[18]
  • The Washington Post covered Langloh's earlier success at Good Counsel, calling the team “nearly unbeatable” under his leadership during the 1995 WCAC tournament.[19]
  • The Washington Post highlighted Langloh’s coaching success in 1995 when he led Good Counsel’s girls’ basketball team to the WCAC title game.[20]
  • The Washington Post mentioned Langloh in its coverage of West Springfield’s 1999 regional tournament win, referencing his role as a scout and assistant in Virginia-area basketball.[21]
  • The Washington Post quoted Langloh in a 2001 feature on local scouting and talent development, where he emphasized building trust with student-athletes and coaches.[22]
  • The Washington Times profiled Langloh in a 2003 feature, discussing his transition from college athlete to high school coach and mentor in the D.C. area.[23]
  • UVA Today revisited the 1976 ACC title run in its 2016 retrospective “Miracle in Landover,” highlighting Langloh’s 20-point performance in the semifinal and leadership throughout the tournament.[5]

Legacy

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Langloh played a central role in the Virginia Cavaliers’ 1976 ACC Tournament championship, often referred to as the “Miracle in Landover.” He scored 20 points in the semifinal against a heavily favored Maryland team and made key free throws in the final, helping Virginia secure its first-ever ACC title and NCAA Tournament berth.[4]

Although selected by the Boston Celtics in the fifth round of the 1977 NBA draft, Langloh pursued a different path in coaching and player development. He served as head coach at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School and as an assistant at West Springfield High School, contributing to the success of local basketball programs in the Washington, D.C. region.[8][10]

Langloh was recognized for his calm demeanor, leadership, and commitment to mentoring student-athletes. His contributions to Virginia’s 1976 championship run and to high school basketball coaching have been featured in media retrospectives and university publications.[5][16]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Billy Langloh College Stats". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d "Billy Langloh – The Draft Review". The Draft Review. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  3. ^ "Billy Langloh – Virginia Cavaliers Bio". VirginiaSports.com. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d "Memories of 'Miracle in Landover' Live On". VirginiaSports.com. March 8, 2016. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d "Memories of 'Miracle in Landover' Live On". UVA Today. March 8, 2016. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  6. ^ a b c d "Boston Celtics Transactions". RealGM. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  7. ^ "G. Counsel Selects Langloh". The Washington Post. November 7, 1994. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  8. ^ a b "Langloh Leaves Good Counsel Girls' Basketball Team". The Washington Post. September 11, 1995. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  9. ^ "Notebook: G. Counsel Selects Langloh". The Washington Post. November 7, 1994. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  10. ^ a b "Scout Keeps Eye On W. Springfield". The Washington Post. January 28, 2001. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  11. ^ "All-Met Basketball Team List". DCBasketball.com. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  12. ^ "Virginia Men's Basketball History". VirginiaSports.com. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  13. ^ "'Miracle in Landover' Still Resonates". Richmond Times-Dispatch. March 5, 2016. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  14. ^ "Langloh Leaves Good Counsel Girls' Basketball Team". The Washington Post. September 12, 1995. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  15. ^ "Virginia Crashes the Party". Sports Illustrated. March 15, 1976. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  16. ^ a b "Carolina Ends Cavalier Reign in Comeback". The Washington Post. March 6, 1977. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  17. ^ "Maryland Looms As Area Mystery Team". The Washington Post. November 20, 1977. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  18. ^ "Schools Rethink Security After Fight at Girls Game". The Washington Post. February 16, 1995. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  19. ^ "Good Counsel Is Nearly All the Way". The Washington Post. March 4, 1995. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  20. ^ "Langloh Leaves Good Counsel Girls' Basketball Team". The Washington Post. September 12, 1995. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  21. ^ "West Springfield Advances, 47–46". The Washington Post. March 12, 1999. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  22. ^ "Scout Keeps Eye on W. Springfield". The Washington Post. January 29, 2001. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  23. ^ "Langloh Still Gets a Kick from Prep Hoops". The Washington Times. June 19, 2003. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
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