USC Men's Basketball Legend George Raveling Dies at 88
September 02, 2025 | Men's Basketball
LOS ANGELES – USC Men's Basketball mourns the loss of legendary coach George Raveling, who passed away on Sept. 1 at the age of 88.
The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and College Basketball Hall of Fame coach led the Trojans from 1987 through 1994, taking USC to the NCAA Tournament in 1991 and 1992. With those performances, he earned NABC Coach of the Year honors in 1992 and 1994. His 1992 team, featuring USC's all-time leading scorer Harold Miner, went 24-6 before losing in the second round of the NCAA Tournament to Georgia Tech on a three-pointer at the buzzer. In addition to serving as USC's 11th coach in school history, Raveling also coached as an assistant at his alma mater, Villanova, and Maryland, and was also a head coach at Washington State and Iowa. Raveling's career was socially significant as well, becoming the first Black head coach in the Pac-8.
After his coaching career, Raveling became a basketball color commentator for Fox Sports and CBS. He later joined Nike and held the title of Director of International Basketball for Nike.
Off the court, Raveling was remembered as a bodyguard at Martin Luther King Jr.'s March on Washington in 1963. He also acquired the original copy of MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech, which he later donated to his alma mater, Villanova.
This page will be updated in the coming days with information on the memorial services for Raveling.
The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and College Basketball Hall of Fame coach led the Trojans from 1987 through 1994, taking USC to the NCAA Tournament in 1991 and 1992. With those performances, he earned NABC Coach of the Year honors in 1992 and 1994. His 1992 team, featuring USC's all-time leading scorer Harold Miner, went 24-6 before losing in the second round of the NCAA Tournament to Georgia Tech on a three-pointer at the buzzer. In addition to serving as USC's 11th coach in school history, Raveling also coached as an assistant at his alma mater, Villanova, and Maryland, and was also a head coach at Washington State and Iowa. Raveling's career was socially significant as well, becoming the first Black head coach in the Pac-8.
After his coaching career, Raveling became a basketball color commentator for Fox Sports and CBS. He later joined Nike and held the title of Director of International Basketball for Nike.
Off the court, Raveling was remembered as a bodyguard at Martin Luther King Jr.'s March on Washington in 1963. He also acquired the original copy of MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech, which he later donated to his alma mater, Villanova.
This page will be updated in the coming days with information on the memorial services for Raveling.
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