George Raveling

George Raveling
Sport(s) Basketball
Biographical details
Born (1937-06-27) June 27, 1937
Washington, D.C.
Playing career
1957–1960 Villanova
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1963–1969 Villanova (assistant)
1969–1972 Maryland (assistant)
1972–1983 Washington State
1983–1986 Iowa
1986–1994 USC
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
3× Pac-10 Coach of the Year (1976, 1983, 1992)
John Bunn Award (2013)
Basketball Hall of Fame
Inducted in 2015
College Basketball Hall of Fame
Inducted in 2013
Medal record
Assistant Coach for  United States
men's national basketball team
Olympic Games
1984 Los AngelesTeam
1988 SeoulTeam

George Henry Raveling (born June 27, 1937) is a pioneer and innovator in the sport of American college basketball.[1] He played collegiate basketball for Villanova University. Later, he became the head coach at Washington State University (1972–1983), the University of Iowa (1983–1986), and the University of Southern California (1986–1994).

Raveling has been Nike's global basketball sports marketing director since he retired from coaching in 1994.[2] He is a former FOX Sports Net color commentator, and is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.[3]

Early life

George was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up there.[1] He did not play basketball until his ninth grade year. He was enrolled at St. Michael’s, a Catholic boarding school Hoban Heights, Pennsylvania. St. Michael's was founded as an orphanage in 1916 near Scranton, Pennsylvania, and it closed in 2010.[4] His grandmother’s employer helped him enroll.[1] Raveling’s father died when he was 9 and his mother was institutionalized when he was 13, so academics became among the most influential forces in his life.[1]

College

He attended college at Villanova University and played for the Wildcats Men's basketball team.[5] He was an outstanding rebounder, and set school single game and season rebounding records in his time.[5] He was team captain in his senior season, and was featured on the cover of the 1960 media guide.[6] The Philadelphia Warriors selected George Raveling in Round 8 with Pick 7 in the 1960 NBA Draft.[7] He then became an assistant coach at his alma mater for Villanova Wildcats men's basketball. He later became an assistant for Maryland Terrapins men's basketball.[8] He became the first African American coach in the ACC.[9]

March on Washington with Martin Luther King Jr.

On August 28, 1963, as Martin Luther King Jr. waved goodbye to an audience of over 250,000 "March on Washington" participants, Raveling asked King if he could have the speech. King handed Raveling the original typewritten "I Have a Dream" pages.[10] Raveling was on the podium with King at that moment, having volunteered to provide security.[11] He still has the original, and had been offered up to a million dollars for the speech copy.[12][13]

College basketball coach

Washington State

Hired after the 1971–72 season,[8], he was the first African-American basketball coach in the Pac-8.[9] Raveling guided the Washington State men's basketball team from 1972–1983 with two NCAA tournament appearances during his 11 years. The first appearance was in 1980 and marked the first time WSU was included in the NCAA bracket since finishing second in 1941. Three years later Raveling returned WSU to the NCAA tournament. Raveling was one of the winningest coaches in Washington State basketball history, finishing his WSU career with 167 wins, 136 losses, and seven winning seasons, including five straight from the 1975–76 campaign through the 1980 season.

While at Washington State, Raveling was an assistant coach for the USA team at the 1979 Pan American Games and the West Regional coach at the 1979 U.S. Olympic Sports Festival. He also was an assistant coach for the U.S. Olympic Trials in 1980.

Among his outstanding players were James Donaldson, Craig Ehlo, Don Collins, Bryan Rison and Steve Harriel, who all earned All-Pacific-10 Conference first team honors. Donaldson went on to play in the NBA for 14 years and was on the 1988 NBA All-star team. Collins went on to play in both the NBA and CBA after setting the WSU record for career steels and finishing third in scoring. Ehlo was selected in the third round of the 1983 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets. He played 14 NBA seasons with four teams, amassing respectable career totals of 7,492 points, 2,456 assists and 3,139 rebounds.

Raveling was the UPI Pac-8 Coach of the Year winner in 1976, and was the league's coach of the year winner in 1976 and 1983. Coach Raveling was honored by WSU with his induction into the Pac-12 Hall of Honor.

Iowa

Raveling replaced Lute Olson as head coach at the University of Iowa in 1983,[14] guiding the Hawkeyes to consecutive 20-win seasons and NCAA tournament berths in 1985 and 1986. In 1984, he served as the assistant coach for the USA Olympic men's basketball team. Bob Knight served as the head coach, and Steve Alford and Michael Jordan were guards on that team. Shooting 63.9 percent from the floor, the US team captured the ninth Olympic title with a convincing 96–65 victory over Spain in the gold medal game. During his 4-year tenure at Iowa, Raveling is probably best known for his recruits and outstanding players, including B.J. Armstrong, Kevin Gamble, Ed Horton, Roy Marble and Greg Stokes, all of whom went on to play in the NBA.

USC

In March 1986, he returned to the Pac-10 as head coach for the University of Southern California (USC).[15]

Hank Gathers and Bo Kimble were recruited to USC by Head Coach Stan Morrison and his top assistant, David Spencer. They were joined by high school All-American, Tom Lewis, and Rich Grande as the "Four Freshmen" star recruiting class.[16][17] Following an 11–17 season coaching USC, Morrison and Spencer were fired after the 1985–86 season was over, despite winning the Pac-10 the previous year. It was reported that the players would not remain unless certain conditions were met, including having a say in the next coaching staff.[16] USC hired Raveling as the next head coach of the Trojans.[18] Raveling gave the players a deadline to respond whether they would remain on the team. When they did not respond, he revoked the scholarships of Gathers, Kimble, and Lewis.[19] Raveling's controversial[20] statement was, "You can't let the Indians run the reservation," he said. "You've got to be strong, too. Sometimes you have to tell them that they have to exit."[16] Kimble and Gathers transferred together from USC to Loyola Marymount. Lewis transferred to Pepperdine. Grande remained at USC.

During Raveling's career at USC, the Trojans advanced to the NCAA tournament in 1991 and 1992 and competed in the NIT in 1993 and 1994.

Raveling was named Kodak National Coach of the Year (1992), Basketball Weekly Coach of the Year (1992), Black Coaches Association Coach of the Year (1992) and CBS/Chevrolet National Coach of the Year (1994).

Raveling and Sonny Vaccaro had been close friends, to the point that he was the best man at Sonny's second wedding. But, Raveling had a falling out with Sonny over the business of summer high school basketball camps that Sonny ran.[21]

Retirement

On the morning of September 25, 1994, Raveling's Jeep was blindsided in a two-car collision. He was seriously injured, suffering nine broken ribs, a fractured pelvis and clavicle, and a collapsed lung.[22] He was in intensive care due to bleeding in his chest cavity for two weeks.[23] Citing the automobile accident and planned lengthy rehabilitation, he retired as head coach of USC at the age of 57 on November 15.[24]

Post-coaching

Raveling has worked as the Director for International Basketball for Nike[25] since his retirement from USC, and has authored two books on rebounding drills, War on the Boards and A Rebounder's Workshop. He has served as a color commentator for CBS Sports and FOX Sports Net, often drawing assignments for Pac-10 conference games.

Raveling has the original typewritten "I Have a Dream" speech given to him by Martin Luther King Jr..[10] On September 8, 2018, he was selected by former University of Maryland head basketball coach Lefty Driesell as one of Driesell's presenters upon his induction into the Naismith Hall of Fame.[26]

Awards

In 2013, he received the John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame,[27] On November 21, 2013, he was a recipient of the Lapchick award (in memory of Joe Lapchick St. John's Basketball Coach, together with Don Haskins and Theresa Grentz.[28][2] On February 14, 2015 it was announced that George Raveling would be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame when he selected for direct election by the Contributor Direct Election Committee.[29]

Head coaching record

Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Washington State Cougars (Pacific-8/Pacific-10 Conference) (1972–1983)
1972–73 Washington State 6–202–128th
1973–74 Washington State 8–213–11T–7th
1974–75 Washington State 10–161–138th
1975–76 Washington State 19–79–54th
1976–77 Washington State 19–88–6T–3rd
1977–78 Washington State 16–117–7T–3rd
1978–79 Washington State 18–910–8T–4th
1979–80 Washington State 22–614–43rdNCAA Division I First Round
1980–81 Washington State 10–173–1510th
1981–82 Washington State 16–1410–85th
1982–83 Washington State 23–714–43rdNCAA Division I Second Round
Washington State: 167–13676–66
Iowa Hawkeyes (Big Ten Conference) (1984–1986)
1983–84 Iowa 13–156–12T–7th
1984–85 Iowa 21–1110–85thNCAA Division I First Round
1985–86 Iowa 20–1210–86thNCAA Division I First Round
Iowa: 55–3826–28
USC Trojans (Pacific-10 Conference) (1987–1994)
1986–87 USC 9–194–1410th
1987–88 USC 7–215–13T–8th
1988–89 USC 10–222–1610th
1989–90 USC 12–166–12T–7th
1990–91 USC 19–1010–8T–3rdNCAA Division I First Round
1991–92 USC 24–615–32ndNCAA Division I Second Round
1992–93 USC 18–129–9T–5thNIT Quarterfinal
1993–94 USC 16–129–97thNIT First Round
USC: 115–11856–70
Total:337–292

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Lefton, Terry - Champions 2017: George Raveling George Raveling’s life in basketball has touched many, helped influence the game. Sports Business Daily. March 27, 2017
  2. 1 2 Former Iowa coach Raveling among Lapchick winners Associated Press (Newton Daily News), November 21, 2013
  3. ↑ The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame - George Raveling
  4. ↑ CHARLES SCHILLINGER - St. Michael's School sold to New York-based non-profit. Times Tribune (Scranton PA), June 10 ,2010
  5. 1 2 Villanova Basketball Media Guide. Villanova Sports Information
  6. ↑ WILDCATS LEGEND RAVELING TO BE INDUCTED INTO NAISMITH HALL OF FAME FRIDAY. Villanova Sports Information, Sept. 10, 2015
  7. ↑ Golden State Warriors Media Guide, NBA, 2017-2018. Original selection day Apr 11, 1960
  8. 1 2 "Raveling takes over new post". The Dispatch. Lexington, North Carolina. UPI. April 12, 1972. p. 15.
  9. 1 2 Lefton, Terry - 'The Godfather': George Raveling’s life in basketball has touched many, influenced the game Sports Business Journal, March 29, 2017
  10. 1 2 Xavier L. Suarez (27 October 2011). Democracy in America: 2010. AuthorHouse. pp. 10–. ISBN 978-1-4567-6056-4. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
  11. ↑ Karen Price Hossell (5 December 2005). I Have a Dream. Heinemann-Raintree Library. pp. 34–. ISBN 978-1-4034-6811-6. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
  12. ↑ Weir, Tom George Raveling owns MLK's 'I have a dream' speech. USA Today, February 27, 2009
  13. ↑ Brinkley, Douglas (2003-08-28). "Guardian of The Dream". Time.com. Retrieved 2013-08-28.
  14. ↑ Devlin, Vince (February 12, 1984). "Iowa: Nothing is un-Raveling - yet". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. D1.
  15. ↑ USC Trojans Men's Basketball media guide. Online copy available at www.usctrojans.com
  16. 1 2 3 Harvey, Randy – Un-Raveling at USC: A Failure to Communicate. Los Angeles Times, May 13, 1986
  17. ↑ Florence, Mal -Freshmen Make Sweet Music in USC Victory. Los Angeles Times, January 18, 1986. The young players—Hank Gathers, Tom Lewis, Bo Kimble and Rich Grande—all contributed Saturday afternoon as USC beat Arizona State, 81–72, at the Sports Arena.
  18. ↑ Fleischman, Bill-Raveling Leaves Iowa To Take Reins At USC. Philadelphia Daily News, March 28, 1986
  19. ↑ Florence, Mal Taken From 3 USC Freshmen : Lewis, Gathers and Kimble Receive Word From Raveling. Los Angeles Times, April 15, 1986
  20. ↑ Sands, Vernon -At Least, If Raveling Gives a Hoot, Then So Does His USC Team. Los Angeles Times, April 5, 1986
  21. ↑ Bucher, Ric - The Last Don ESPN Magazine. October 28, 2002
  22. ↑ Sandomir, Richard. "1994 automobile accident". The New York Times. Retrieved 2013-08-28.
  23. ↑ SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Raveling Is 'Stable' New York Times, September 27, 1994.
  24. ↑ Friend, Tom BASKETBALL; Raveling Resigns as Coach Of U.S.C., Citing Accident New York Times November 15, 1994.
  25. ↑ Procopio, Mike (2013-08-22). "About | Coaching for Success | The Official Website of George Raveling". CoachGeorgeRaveling.com. Retrieved 2013-08-28.
  26. ↑ Hall of Fame highlights: Ray Allen praises Celtics teammates, Steve Nash inspires, Don Nelson's new look
  27. ↑ Legendary Coach George Raveling To Receive Basketball Hall of Fame's 2013 John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award Archived 2013-02-20 at the Wayback Machine. February 15, 2013
  28. ↑ Coaching icons earn Lapchicks. ESPN (AP), November 21, 2013.
  29. ↑ Great basketball Coach, Lifetime contributor George Raveling to enter Hall of Fame in Class of 2015 Archived 2015-02-14 at the Wayback Machine.
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