LSU coach who recruited teen Shaq dies at 90

Dale Brown, the former LSU basketball coach, died on Friday, Oct. 23, at age 90. His death marks the end of a career defined by his early discovery of Shaquille O'Neal and his long tenure in Baton Rouge.

The connection began in 1984 at a military base in West Germany. Brown was leading a basketball clinic when 13-year-old O'Neal approached him. The teenager was already standing 6 feet, 9 inches tall. Brown initially mistook the boy for a soldier, asking how long he had served in the Army. Upon learning O'Neal's age, Brown recognized his potential.

The two developed a close relationship through correspondence. Brown mailed letters and specific basketball exercises to O'Neal, who was then developing into a top high school prospect. In a 2015 interview with Esquire, O'Neal noted he lacked confidence in his abilities at the time but credited Brown with helping him improve. Brown eventually recruited O'Neal to LSU, where the center played from 1989 to 1992.

O'Neal became a two-time consensus All-American and a two-time SEC Player of the Year during his time at LSU. He entered the NBA as the No. 1 overall pick in the 1992 draft. Their bond survived his departure from college. In a 1999 letter congratulating Brown on his induction into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, O'Neal wrote, "You are the only college coach I ever had, and the only one I ever wanted."

Brown remained present in O'Neal's professional life. He celebrated the center's first NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000. That same year, O'Neal returned to LSU to complete his college degree, fulfilling a promise he made to his family and Brown when he originally left school in 1992. O'Neal later described Brown as a father figure, leader, and motivator off the court.

A 2015 ESPN documentary titled "Shaq & Dale" explored the pair's history. Directed by Hannah Storm and narrated by Tim McGraw, the film traced their relationship from Germany through O'Neal's college and professional years. LSU Athletics stated the two maintained regular contact through letters and emails for decades.

Brown's passing occurred just two days after a professional milestone. On Oct. 21, LSU announced that Brown was selected as the 2027 recipient of the John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching Award. O'Neal recorded a video message congratulating his former coach on the honor. The ceremony is scheduled for April 2027.