UCLA Athletics Mourns Loss of Denny Crum

Story Links

Former UCLA basketball player and assistant coach Denny Crum passed away at his home on Tuesday morning, as announced by the University of Louisville. Crum was 86.   Crum served as the University of Louisville men's basketball head coach for 30 seasons (1971-2001) after starting his coaching career with UCLA in the 1960s.   A two-year varsity letterwinner for the Bruins in 1957-58 and 1958-59, Crum assisted Jerry Norman with the Bruins' freshman squad in the early 1960s (known as the "Brubabes"). He served as an assistant coach on head coach John Wooden's staff for three seasons (1968-69 through 1970-71), helping UCLA secure the NCAA Championship each season. The Bruins registered a combined 86-4 record during those three years.   Crum was hired as Louisville's head coach in 1971 and led the Cardinals to NCAA Championships in 1980 and 1986. He concluded his college head coaching career as one of 14 coaches in NCAA history to have won two or more NCAA titles. He directed Louisville to six NCAA Final Four appearances, including four times during the 1980s decade.   Crum became the second fastest head coach to reach the 500-win total in 1993. He had been nicknamed "Cool Hand Luke" for his calm demeanor and concluded his career at Louisville with a record of 675-295.   A native of the San Fernando Valley in Southern California, Crum attended San Fernando High School and played three seasons on the varsity basketball team, securing all-league honors as a senior. From there, he moved on to Pierce College in Woodland Hills, earning All-Southern California Junior College honors as a freshman and sophomore. He was honored as the "Player of the Year" in 1956.   Crum transferred to UCLA for his junior season and played for Coach Wooden in 1957-58 and 1958-59. Through his two-year UCLA career, he scored 346 points in 49 games and usually teamed with standout guard Walt Torrence in the Bruins' backcourt.   At the conclusion of UCLA's 1957-58 campaign, Crum was honored as the recipient of the team's Irv Pohlmeyer Award as the outstanding first-year varsity player. He was honored with the Bruin Bench Award in 1958-59 for most improvement.   After assisting Norman with the Bruins' freshman squad for two seasons, he became an assistant coach at Pierce College and was soon elevated to the role of head coach at the local junior college (prior to the 1964-65 season). He compiled an 86-40 record at Pierce College, with a 52-12 conference record.   Crum was inducted into the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on May 9, 1994.