The coach of the Hall of Fame George Raveling dies 88 from Cancer

The Hall of Famer George Raveling, who trained in Washington State, Iowa and Usca, but whose influence was much wider – also in the Nike agreement of Michael Jordan – died at the age of 88 due to cancer, announced his family Tuesday.

Raveling was a “coach of the coach” and part of an initial wave of black basketball in mainly white universities. Raveling has been widely respected all over the world of basketball and found success at every stop on his coach’s trip.

This respect made him land on the United States Technical Basketball staff for the 1984 and 1988 Seoul Olympics. It was in those 1984 games when Raveling grew up near Michael Jordan and his family. It was Raveling who introduced Jordan to Sonny Vaccaro to Nike and helped convince Jordan to sign with Oregon Company into a move that in the end transformed the basketball shoes industry. Since then Jordan has said several times that he has revived, more than Vaccaro, who convinced him to sign with Nike. In the film “Air” on Nike’s pursuit and Jordan’s signature, Marlon Wayans played Raveling.

Raveling also owned the original copy of the “I Have a Dream” speech by Martin Luther King. Raveling was working on security in March 1963 in Washington and was close to King during the speech. As Raveling says, he simply asked King the speech while he was walking from the stage and King smiled and handed it over. Raveling held the speech (which he had framed to protect him) until he donated him to his Alma Mater, Villanova, a few years ago.

Raveling played his university ball in Villanova between 1957 and 1960, with an average of 12.3 points and 14.6 rebounds per game in his last two seasons. He was enrolled by the Philadelphia Warriors – in the eighth round, when the draft of the NBA was so deep – but never adapted to the NBA.

“The best human being, inspiring mentor, alume more faithful and a loving friendly friend”, Jay Wright, who trained Villanova with two national championships, Posted on x. “Coach Raveling lived his life for others, his heart was restless and kind and now he rests in the Lord!”

Raveling found his call as a coach. He collected a 335-293 as head coach for Cougars, Hawkeyes and Trojan, bringing each program twice to the NCAA tournament. After coaching, he has been for years as Nike International Basketball Director, flying around the world to watch and speak with the perspectives.