Last Updated on 3 months ago by Vijay Kumar
George Raveling was an American college basketball player and coach who passed away on September 1, 2025, at the age of 88 due to cancer. George Raveling wrote on X, “It is with deep sadness and unimaginable pain that we share the passing of our beloved “Coach,” George Henry Raveling.”
He played for Villanova University and later served as the head coach at Washington State University from 1972 to 1983, the University of Iowa from 1983 to 1986, and the University of Southern California from 1986 to 1994. He was also a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
He attended Villanova University near Philadelphia, where he played basketball for the Wildcats. After graduating, he became an assistant coach at his alma mater before moving to the University of Maryland in 1969, joining the staff of new head coach Lefty Driesell. At Maryland, he made history as the first African American coach in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
After college, Raveling became a pioneering head coach, breaking barriers as the first African American head coach in the Pac-8 at Washington State before moving on to Iowa and USC. He later transitioned into a corporate career at Nike, where he served as Director of International Basketball and played a key role in the company’s global expansion. Throughout his career, he earned numerous honors, including induction into the College Basketball Hall of Fame (2013), the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (2015), and the International Basketball Hall of Fame. He is also famously remembered for being entrusted with the original copy of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech at the 1963 March on Washington.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said, “George Raveling had an influence on the game of basketball at every level and was a pioneering force behind its global growth. During his long and impactful tenure at Nike, George traveled the world – mentoring multiple generations of players and coaches and promoting the sport that defined his identity. He broke barriers as a college basketball coach and was a towering voice in our industry. I valued my friendship with George and admired how he led with poise, dignity and respect. He was simply one of the most revered individuals in all of basketball.”
“On behalf of everyone at the NBA, I send my deepest condolences to George’s family, friends and the countless people he touched throughout his extraordinary life.”
Statement from coach John Calipari, who shared an emotional tribute after George Raveling’s death. He said Raveling was not just a mentor but also a true friend throughout his career, someone he spoke with every week. Calipari recalled how Raveling even traveled to Egypt to support him during USA Basketball. What stood out most was Raveling’s selflessness—he always asked, “What can I do for you?” Calipari expressed hope that he was able to give Raveling the same joy that Raveling brought to him, ending with heartfelt words: “Going to miss my friend.”
My name is Vijay Kumar. I work as content writer and founder of this website. I am studying BSC IT. I has been writing content since 2022. I also learn about journalism.
