Tom Bishop played four seasons for the University of Calgary Dinos men’s basketball team. He is regarded as one of the finest inside players to ever wear University of Calgary Dinos basketball uniform.
A native Calgarian, Tom, played one season at Mount Royal College before transferring to the University of Calgary. A four year starter, Tom was a Canada West first team all-star in 1976, first team Canadian University Sport All-Canadian in 1976, and University of Calgary Male Athlete of the Year. He was a member of Calgary’s Canada West Championship team that competed in the 1976 National Championship tournament and was Canada West Player of the Year. That year saw Bishop average 20.1 points per game and 8.8 rebounds per game.
Bishop finished his varsity career averaging 7.2 rebounds per game and 12.4 points per game in his four years in Conference play.
Despite playing over 30 years ago, Tom is still part of the University of Calgary record book. He is the school’s leading rebounder in terms of rebounds per game with 7.2 and fourth overall in rebounds with 577 despite playing just 80 Conference games.
In addition to playing for Dinos, Tom was a member Canada’s National Men’s Basketball under the late Head Coach Jack Donohue for six seasons (from 1977 to 1980 and 1982 and 1983). He competed in numerous international tournaments for Canada including World Championships and Pan American Games.
In addition to being a player, he also served as an Assistant Coach to Gary Howard and was Interim Head Coach in 1983-84 while Howard was on sabbatical leave guiding the Dinos to a 7-3 record in Conference play and an overall record of 28-14. That year the Dinos were Conference Finalists losing to eventual National Champion University of Victoria Vikes.
Bishop graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Physical Education degree and has been a successful High School in Calgary at various schools.
With his induction, Tom becomes the second University of Calgary basketball player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, the first being Karl Tilleman in 1995.
