LSU basketball coach Dale Brown dies at 90

Dale Brown, the former head coach who transformed Louisiana State University (LSU) men’s basketball into a national powerhouse, has died at the age of 90.

During his 25-year tenure from 1972 to 1997, Brown led the Tigers to 13 NCAA Tournament appearances and two Final Four appearances in 1981 and 1986. He finished his career with a 448-301 record, making him the winningest coach in LSU men’s basketball history. Under his leadership, the program secured four SEC regular-season championships and one SEC Tournament title.

Brown coached several notable NBA talents, including Shaquille O’Neal and Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf. He was a highly decorated coach, earning SEC Coach of the Year honors four times and being named National Coach of the Year in 1981. He was also recently named the 2027 recipient of the John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching Award.

Known for his charisma and outspoken nature, Brown was a frequent critic of the NCAA, famously labeling its officials as ‘the Gestapo’ due to his opposition to their enforcement methods.