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Bowling Green State University Athletics
BGSU Hall of Famer Walt Piatkowski Passes Away
August 22, 2025 | Men's Basketball
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Former Bowling Green Falcon, MAC Champion and 1989 Bowling Green State University Hall of Fame inductee Walt Piatkowski passed away Monday (Aug. 18) in Omaha, Neb at the age of 80. Piatkowski was a 1968 Bowling Green graduate and one of only five Falcons all-time to be named a three-time BGSU men's basketball MVP, joined by James Darrow, Nate Thurmond, A'uston Calhoun and Justin Turner.Â
Piatkowski had an impressive career in the Orange and Brown, accumulating 1,577 career points, which still stands in the top 10 all-time, ranking ninth in program history while being fourth at the time of his graduation. He averaged 21.6 points per game over his career, ranking third all-time. As for the 1967-68 season, Piatkowski averaged 24.0 points per game for the Falcons, ranking fourth, both then and currently, for single-season scoring average in program history. He added an average of 8.6 rebounds per game over his career as well, currently standing ninth in program history.Â
During his career, Piatkowski led the Falcons to the 1967-68 MAC Title, earning a bid in the NCAA Tournament. He was also recognized as an All-America Honorable Mention by Converse following his senior season in 1968. Piatkowski bolstered his career resume with a pair of First Team All-MAC selections in 1966 and 1968 while being named to the Second Team in 1967. In both 1967 and 1968 he was recognized as Third Team All-District by the NABC as well. The most recent accolade added was his career was his selection to the All-Anderson Team for BGSU Athletics.
Following his BGSU career, Pitakowski was selected in the eighth round of the 1968 NBA Draft by the San Francisco Warriors, the same team that rostered fellow Falcon Nate Thurmond at the time. He was also offered the opportunity to try out for the 1968 United States Olympic Team. Piatkowski instead opted to play in the ABA, debuting on Oct. 29, 1968 for the Denver Rockets. Over two seasons with Denver, Piatkowski appeared in 151 games, totaling 1,459 points while shooting over 40-percent in each season. During his first season alone, he scored 942 points, earning a spot on the ABA's All-Rookie Team. In 1971-72 his professional career concluded, spending the season with The Floridians.
Piatkowski had an impressive career in the Orange and Brown, accumulating 1,577 career points, which still stands in the top 10 all-time, ranking ninth in program history while being fourth at the time of his graduation. He averaged 21.6 points per game over his career, ranking third all-time. As for the 1967-68 season, Piatkowski averaged 24.0 points per game for the Falcons, ranking fourth, both then and currently, for single-season scoring average in program history. He added an average of 8.6 rebounds per game over his career as well, currently standing ninth in program history.Â
During his career, Piatkowski led the Falcons to the 1967-68 MAC Title, earning a bid in the NCAA Tournament. He was also recognized as an All-America Honorable Mention by Converse following his senior season in 1968. Piatkowski bolstered his career resume with a pair of First Team All-MAC selections in 1966 and 1968 while being named to the Second Team in 1967. In both 1967 and 1968 he was recognized as Third Team All-District by the NABC as well. The most recent accolade added was his career was his selection to the All-Anderson Team for BGSU Athletics.
Following his BGSU career, Pitakowski was selected in the eighth round of the 1968 NBA Draft by the San Francisco Warriors, the same team that rostered fellow Falcon Nate Thurmond at the time. He was also offered the opportunity to try out for the 1968 United States Olympic Team. Piatkowski instead opted to play in the ABA, debuting on Oct. 29, 1968 for the Denver Rockets. Over two seasons with Denver, Piatkowski appeared in 151 games, totaling 1,459 points while shooting over 40-percent in each season. During his first season alone, he scored 942 points, earning a spot on the ABA's All-Rookie Team. In 1971-72 his professional career concluded, spending the season with The Floridians.
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