Former LSU men’s basketball coach Dale Brown died on Friday at the age of 90. Brown’s family confirmed his death in a statement issued to multiple outlets and the LSU program.
Brown coached the Tigers for 25 seasons from 1972-97, compiling a record of 448-301. His win total is the highest in LSU men’s basketball history. Brown’s best season was the 1980-81 campaign, finishing with a 31-5 record, a first-place standing in the SEC and a trip to the Final Four.
During Brown’s tenure, LSU won four SEC regular-season titles and one conference tournament championship. His teams earned 13 NCAA tournament berths and advanced to two Final Fours.
The LSU Basketball family is saddened to announce the passing of legendary coach Dale Brown at the age of 90.
— LSU Basketball (@LSUBasketball) October 23, 2026
🔗 - https://t.co/4k1I1qlwzcpic.twitter.com/U0ctlUDiBI
Brown’s 1985-86 team was the first No. 11 seed to ever reach the Final Four, defeating No. 6 Purdue, No. 3 Memphis State, No. 2 Georgia Tech and No. 1 Kentucky in the Southeast Region on its way to the national semifinals. The Tigers lost in the Final Four to Louisville, the No. 2 seed out of the West.
The star players Brown coached in Baton Rouge include Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf (then Chris Jackson), John “Hot Rod” Williams and Rudy Macklin. Macklin, O’Neal and Abdul-Rauf rank second, sixth and eighth, respectively, among LSU’s all-time leading scorers.
"We have lost the most loving and most loved man any of us has ever known. Dale Brown always put others first,” Brown’s family said in a statement. “He always led with the heart. He was always a great humanitarian before anything else.”
“Dale long ago fell in love with Louisiana,” the statement added. “And the people of Louisiana loved him right back. We are forever grateful for that."
This story will be updated with more information.