In July 1975 , Alan E. Guskin, acting president of Clark University in Massachusetts, became the second chancellor of UW–Parkside. In Spring 1976, Gary Cole finished his basketball career with a record 2,262 points (20.6 per game) and 1,177 rebounds. Cole, now known as Abdul Jeelani, went on to play for the Portland Trail Blazers and Dallas Mavericks. Around the same time, UW–Parkside race walker Jim Heiring was the university's first to compete in the United States Olympic trials in the 20-kilometer walk, narrowly missing out on a place in the team. He went on to become a six-time national champion and member of the 1980, 1984 and 1988 teams. In October 1976 the $3.7 million student union opened.