In addition to coaching basketball for Villanova, Severance was a professor of business law at the university.

Severance coached the Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team for 25 seasons (1936–1961), compiling a 413–201 (.673) record.

Among his former players is Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member Paul Arizin.

Severance died on the morning of April 1, 1985, in Lexington, Kentucky, on the day Villanova won the 1985 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.

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