LSU coach Dale Brown, 90, dies two days after Wooden Award news

Dale Brown, the longtime head coach of LSU men’s basketball, died Friday, Oct. 23, at the age of 90.

Brown spent 25 seasons coaching the Tigers from 1972 to 1997. During that span, he recorded 448 victories, a total that remains the highest for any head coach in the university's history.

Under Brown's leadership, the team secured four Southeastern Conference regular-season titles. The program also qualified for the NCAA Tournament on 13 separate occasions, including trips to the Final Four in 1981 and 1986.

His passing occurred just 48 hours after LSU officials announced his selection for the 2027 John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching Award. The honor recognizes his lasting influence on the sport of college basketball.

Brown coached several professional athletes, including NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal and Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf. He also guided Rudy Macklin during the player's standout years at the school.

In a family statement, relatives described Brown as a dedicated humanitarian who prioritized the well-being of others. They noted that he fell in love with Louisiana early in his career and that the state's residents reciprocated that affection.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry posted on X that Brown placed LSU basketball on the national map and that his influence would persist for decades. Sports journalist Marc J. Spears also used the platform to call Brown an extraordinary human who shared valuable wisdom on life and the game.

Brown arrived in Baton Rouge in 1972 to build a competitive program. He toured the state to promote the team, leading to the 1979 SEC title, the program's first since 1954. That momentum carried the team to the 1981 Final Four.

He received the Associated Press National Coach of the Year award in 1981 and was named SEC Coach of the Year four times. Brown holds membership in the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, and the LSU Athletic Hall of Fame.

The Pete Maravich Assembly Center's main court was named Dale Brown Court in 2022. In 2023, the name was updated to Dale Brown/Sue Gunter Court to honor both former coaches.

In a 2025 interview with WAFB reporter Chris Nakamoto, Brown recalled a game against top-ranked Kentucky where all five starters fouled out. He told his bench players they were now backups, not substitutes, and the team won the contest.

Brown was born on Oct. 31, 1935, in Minot, North Dakota. He died eight days before his 91st birthday.