Hall of Fame basketball coach Denny Crum who coached Louisville to two national championships passed away Tuesday at the age of 86.
The university announced his death on social media. “We are saddened to share the passing of legendary UofL Basketball Coach Denny Crum,” the post on the basketball program’s Twitter page said.
“Our thoughts & prayers are with his loved ones.”
Denny Crum played at UCLA and coached under John Wooden. Crum took over at Louisville before the 1971-72 season and led the team in his first year to a 26-5 mark and a berth in a national semifinal game. Then he coach Louisville to 23 NCAA Tournaments, six Final Fours and a 675-295 record.
His Louisville Cardinal teams dominated college basketball in the 1980s. His team won 30 games in three seasons, and he sent 28 players to the NBA.
Crum is one of only 14 coaches in NCAA history with two or more titles. He won national coach of the year honors three times and was second fastest in reaching 500 wins behind only Jerry Tarkanian.
After his retirement, he continued to work as a special assistant to the university president, and the court at the KFC Yum! Center was named after him, as was a new residence hall on campus.
He was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1994.
Credit – University of Louisville
