Hall of Fame coach and Nike executive George Raveling dies at 88
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George Raveling, a Hall of Fame basketball coach who later shaped Nike’s global hoops strategy, has died at age 88.
Raveling guided men’s programs at Washington State, Iowa and USC after starring as a rebounder at Villanova. In 1969, he became the Atlantic Coast Conference’s first Black assistant coach when he joined Lefty Driesell’s staff at Maryland, breaking a significant racial barrier in college basketball.
Following his retirement from coaching in 1994, Raveling moved to Nike, where he served as global basketball marketing director. His work at the company was chronicled in the 2023 film “Air,” in which actor Marlon Wayans portrayed him.
Beyond sports, Raveling volunteered as a security marshal at the 1963 March on Washington. After Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” address, he asked King for a copy of the speech and later donated the historic document to Villanova University.
Raised in Washington, D.C., Raveling did not start playing basketball until ninth grade. He lost his father at nine, and his mother was later institutionalized, experiences he credited with sharpening his focus on academics and mentorship—values he passed on to generations of players and colleagues.
Tributes quickly followed the news of his death. ESPN analyst Jay Bilas hailed him as “a dedicated coach, mentor and true guardian of the game.” Former NBA coach John Lucas added, “It’s the dash that defined you—and yours was unforgettable.”
Source: Hoops Wire
