Ívar DeCarsta Webster

Ívar DeCarsta Unsont Webster (born May 7, 1955) is an American and Icelandic former professional basketball player and coach. Following a college career at Miami Dade and Indiana State, he went on to play for 20 seasons in Iceland where he won the national championship in 1988. In 1984, he became the first naturalized citizen to play for Iceland national basketball team.

Ívar DeCarsta Webster
Personal information
Born (1955-05-07) May 7, 1955
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
NationalityAmerican / Icelandic
Listed height211 cm (6 ft 11 in)
Listed weight230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High schoolGermantown
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
College
NBA draft1978: undrafted
Playing career1979–1999
PositionCenter
Number13
Coaching career1979–2004
Career history
As player:
1979KR
1979–1981Skallagrímur
1981–1986Haukar
1986–1987Þór Akureyri
1987–1988Haukar
1988–1989KR
1989–1990Haukar
1990–1991UÍA
1991KR
1992ÍR
1992–1994Breiðablik
1994–1996Valur
1998–1999Valur
As coach:
1979–1982Skallagrímur
1983–1984Haukar (assistant)
1986–1987Þór Akureyri
1990–1991UÍA
2003–2004Wilmington College (assistant)
Career highlights and awards
As player:

College

Webster played for Indiana State from 1975 to 1978, where he was a roommate of Larry Bird.[1][2] During the 1975–1976 season, he finished sixth in the nation in rebounds.[3] He is the schools all-time leader in blocked shots (168) and third in rebounds (862).[4]

Iceland

Webster joined defending Icelandic national champions KR in September 1979.[5][6][7] After a disappointing offensive performance in the annual Reykjavík tournament,[8] he played one game for KR in the FIBA European Cup Winners' Cup[9][10] before leaving in November to join Division I club Skallagrímur as player-coach.[11][12]

In 1981, Webster joined Haukar and helped them win Division I in 1983 and achieve promotion to Úrvalsdeild karla.[13]

In 1983, foreign players where barred from playing in the Icelandic leagues.[14] Even though Webster was married to an Icelandic woman, with whom he had a child, he did not have an Icelandic citizenship and thus could not play in domestic matches.[15][16] He received his Icelandic citizenship in May 1984 and took up the Icelandic first name Ívar.[17][18]

In 1985, Webster was a key member[19] of the Haukar team that won the Icelandic Basketball Cup for the first time in the club's history. He scored 26 points in Haukar's 73–71 victory over KR.[20] Haukar defended the title in 1986 by defeating Njarðvík 93–92 in the cup finals, with Webster scoring a game high 28 points.[21] After the season he was named the Úrvalsdeild Defensive Player of the Year.[22]

Webster spent the 1986–87 season as a player-coach with Division I club Þór Akureyri.[23][24][25] For the season he averaged 21.7 points in 20 games.[26]

He rejoined Haukar in 1987[27] In February 1988, Webster was handed a seven-week suspension from the Icelandic Basketball Association disciplinary court for punching Breiðablik's player Björn Hjörleifsson on December 12, 1987.[28][29] Webster was upset with the length of the suspension and the fact that it took almost two months to reach a verdict[30] and as a result, declined to play again for the national team, which is run by the Association.[31] Haukar appealed the verdict to the National Olympic and Sports Association of Iceland which overturned it on March 11, allowing Webster to play again.[32] A relieved Webster rescinded his decision to not play with the national team again.[33] With Webster back, Haukar made it to the Úrvalsdeild finals against Njarðvík. Haukar won the series 3–0 after beating Njarðvík 92–91 in double overtime in the third game. Webster scored 6 points in the deciding game and blocked Friðrik Ragnarsson's potential game winning shot at the end of the first overtime.[34][35][36][37][38]

Webster joined KR again for the 1988–1989 season and helped them to the third best record in the Úrvalsdeild[39] while leading the league in rebounds per game.[40] In the playoffs KR surprised many by sweeping top seeded Njarðvík in the semi-finals, paving the way for Webster's second straight trip to the Úrvalsdeild finals.[41][42] In the finals, KR met Keflavík.[43] After splitting the first two games of the series, KR was no match for Keflavík in the third and deciding game, losing 89–72.[44] In June, Webster left KR and rejoined Haukar once again.[45][46]

Return to USA

Webster served as an assistant coach at Wilmington College for the 2003–2004 season.[47]

Icelandic national basketball team

Between 1984 and 1987, Webster played 37 games for the Icelandic national basketball team.[48] He was the first foreigner to play for the national team.[1]

Television and film

Webster had a roles in the 1984 film Gullsandur[49] and the 1989 Icelandic film Under the Glacier (Icelandic: Kristnihald undir Jökli)[50] as well as an appearance in the Áramótaskaupið.[51]

Filmography

References
  1. "Webster er aðstoðarþjálfari". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). February 24, 2004. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  2. Hamel, Michael. "Larry Bird at Indiana State: A Statistical Review" (PDF). michaelhamel.net. p. 82. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  3. Kent Hannon (28 November 1977). "17 Indiana State". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  4. "Individual career records" (PDF). gosycamores.com. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  5. Símonarson, Hallur (September 14, 1979). "Sjö feta risi hjá KR-ingum í körfuboltanum". Dagblaðið (in Icelandic). Retrieved 27 August 2017 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  6. "Evrópuslagur í Höllinni í kvöld". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). October 30, 1979. Retrieved 27 August 2017 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  7. "KR-ingar i villuvandræðum töpuðu með 20 stiga mun". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). October 31, 1979. Retrieved 27 August 2017 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  8. "KR-ingar skipta um leikmann í körfunni". Vísir (in Icelandic). October 9, 1979. Retrieved 27 August 2017 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  9. "Ekki í hátíðaskapi". Vísir (in Icelandic). October 31, 1979. Retrieved 27 August 2017 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  10. "Villuvandræði settu strik í reikninginn!". Vísir (in Icelandic). October 31, 1979. Retrieved 27 August 2017 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  11. ""Spói" leikur ekki með KR". Vísir (in Icelandic). November 2, 1979. Retrieved 27 August 2017 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  12. Kristján Kristjánsson (1 April 1987). "Skírður í höfuðið á syni mínum". Íþróttablaðið (in Icelandic). pp. 16–20. Retrieved 15 May 2022 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  13. "Haukar á leið upp". Tíminn (in Icelandic). February 22, 1983. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  14. "Útilokaði alla aðra útlendinga". Tíminn (in Icelandic). September 23, 1983. Retrieved 27 August 2017 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  15. "Njóta sömu réttinda og Íslendingar – nema í körfubolta". Tíminn (in Icelandic). September 24, 1983. Retrieved 27 August 2017 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  16. ""Webster er bannað að leika með samkvæmt reglum KKI sem eiga alls ekki rétt á sér"". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). October 11, 1983. Retrieved 27 August 2017 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  17. "Webster orðinn íslendingur". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). May 23, 1984. Retrieved 27 August 2017 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  18. ""Við getum leikið mun betur en þetta"". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). October 29, 1984. Retrieved 27 August 2017 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  19. "Okkar tími er runninn upp". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). March 28, 1985. Retrieved 27 August 2017 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  20. "Hörkuleik lauk meö naumum sigri Hauka". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). March 29, 1985. Retrieved 27 August 2017 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  21. "Bikarinn aftur í Fjörðinn". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). March 14, 1986. Retrieved 27 August 2017 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  22. "Pálmar og Linda best í körfunni". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). March 15, 1986. Retrieved 27 August 2017 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  23. "Webster fer til Þórs á Akureyri". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). May 16, 1986. Retrieved 27 August 2017 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  24. "Webster byrjaður þjálfun". Dagur (in Icelandic). August 26, 1986. Retrieved 27 August 2017 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  25. "Takmarkið að koma Þór aftur í röð bestu liða landsins". Dagur (in Icelandic). September 5, 1986. Retrieved 27 August 2017 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  26. "1. deild karla – Þór Ak". KKI.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  27. Kristjánsson, Gylfi (April 13, 1987). "Ívar aftur í Hauka!". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). Retrieved 27 August 2017 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  28. "Mál Ívars Webster fer fyrir dóm". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). January 14, 1988. Retrieved 27 August 2017 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  29. "Ívar Webster í sjö vikna bann". Tíminn (in Icelandic). February 12, 1988. Retrieved 27 August 2017 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  30. "Niðurstaðan særir mig". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). February 12, 1988. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  31. "Hættur með landsliðinu!". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). March 2, 1988. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  32. "Dómstóll ÍSÍ aflétti banni Ívars Webster". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). March 12, 1988. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  33. "Ívar Webster laus úr leikbannimi: "Tilbúinn i landsliðið"". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). March 14, 1988. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  34. ""Alveg rosalegt!!!!"". Þjóðviljinn (in Icelandic). April 20, 1988. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  35. "Haukar meistarar". Tíminn (in Icelandic). April 20, 1988. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  36. Bollason, Einar (April 20, 1988). "Brotið blað". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  37. Kárason, Ægir Már (April 20, 1988). "Einveldi UMFN á enda". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  38. "Besta byrjunarlið Hauka". Karfan.is (in Icelandic). January 20, 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  39. "Flugleiðadeild 1989". KKI.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  40. "Heildartölfræði einstaklinga á einu tímabili – Meðaltöl". KKI.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  41. Eiðsson, Logi B. (March 14, 1989). "Pressað til hins ýtrasta!". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  42. "KR vann taugastríðið – Njarðvíkingar úr leik". Tíminn (in Icelandic). March 14, 1989. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  43. ""Pressuvörn gerir leikinn miklu skemmtilegri"". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). March 22, 1989. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  44. Blöndal, Björn (March 23, 1989). "Frábær liðsheild skóp fyrsta Íslandstitil ÍBK". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  45. "Pálmar tekur aftur við þjálfun Hauka". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). June 2, 1989. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  46. "Ívar aftur í Hauka". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). June 2, 1989. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  47. Jack Ireland (13 November 2003). "Wilmington College strives to improve". The News Journal. p. CH15. Retrieved 22 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.open access
  48. "KKÍ | A landslið". kki.is. Retrieved 2017-08-27.
  49. "Hermenn af Vellinum í skemmtiferð". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). June 25, 1984. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  50. "Under the Glacier (1989)". imdb.com. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  51. Sigurðsson, Skúli (November 20, 2014). "Webster: Vil tækifæri til að þjálfa á Íslandi". Karfan.is. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
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