LSU coach Dale Brown, who mentored Shaq, dies at 90

Dale Brown, the head coach who spent 25 years leading the LSU men's basketball program, died on Friday, Oct. 23. He was 90 years old. Brown held the position from 1972 until 1997 and accumulated 448 victories, the highest total in school history.

Under his leadership, the Tigers claimed four Southeastern Conference regular-season titles and qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 13 separate seasons. The team advanced to the Final Four in 1981 and again in 1986. Brown received the Associated Press National Coach of the Year award in 1981 and was named SEC Coach of the Year four times.

His death occurred just 48 hours after LSU announced his selection for the 2027 John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching Award. The honor recognizes coaches for their long-term impact on the sport. Brown's roster included future NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, and Rudy Macklin.

Brown's family released a statement describing him as a man who prioritized others. They said he "always led with the heart" and was "a great humanitarian before anything else." The family noted that Brown fell in love with Louisiana and that its residents reciprocated that affection.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry posted on X that Brown placed LSU basketball on the national map. Sports journalist Marc J. Spears, also on X, described Brown as an extraordinary human and thanked him for sharing wisdom about life and basketball.

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 remaining players, "From now on you are not substitutes, you are backups," and the team won. Brown, who was born in Minot, North Dakota on Oct. 31, 1935, passed away eight days before his 91st birthday.