Legendary former LSU basketball Coach Dale Brown died Friday, Oct. 23. He was 90.
Brown remains LSU's winning all-time coach with 448 wins and two NCAA Final Four appearances, though he was known as much for his motivational abilities as much as for his coaching acumen. He said players need to know you care before they care what you know.
He was called "Daddy Dale" by opponents as an insult, but his players and fans embraced the nickname as a celebration of Brown's compassion and term of endearment.
Brown came to LSU in 1972 and coached the team for 25 seasons.
His death comes just two days after LSU announced he had been selected to receive the 2027 John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching Award recognizing his accomplishments and impact on college basketball.
Brown led LSU to four Southeastern Conference regular-season championships and 13 NCAA Tournament appearances as well as the Final Four in 1981 and 1986.
Among his most famous players is NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal.
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Brown was the Associated Press National Coach of the Year in 1981 and SEC Coach of the Year four times.
He is a member of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and LSU Athletic Hall of Fame.
The court inside the Pete Maravich Assembly Center is named after Brown and former LSU women's coach Sue Gunter.
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Legendary LSU basketball Coach Dale Brown dies