George Raveling, a former Nike marketing executive and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member, died at the age of 88, his family announced in a statement on social media.
“It is with deep sadness and unimaginable pain that we share the passing of our beloved ‘Coach,’ George Henry Raveling, who faced cancer with courage and grace,” Raveling’s family wrote in a statement. “There are no words to fully capture what George meant to his family, friends, colleagues, former players, and assistants − and to the world.”
After playing at Villanova in the early 1960s and beginning his coaching journey there, Raveling continued as an assistant coach at the University of Maryland before becoming head coach at Washington State, Iowa, and the University of Southern California. He then served as an assistant coach for the 1984 and 1988 U.S. Olympic men’s basketball teams, earning both gold and bronze medals, respectively. During this period, Raveling is credited with playing a pivotal role in Nike’s signing of Michael Jordan, a young player from the University of North Carolina.
Throughout his coaching career, Raveling was named Pac-10 Coach of the Year three times, honored by the National Association of Basketball Coaches, and later inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015.
Upon retiring from coaching in 1994, Raveling joined Nike at the request of Co-founder Phil Knight. Over the years, he served in various roles with the company, including as a grassroots promoter and international sports marketing director. Raveling also played a key role in developing the Nike Hoop Summit, which promotes international youth player development, among other projects.
Raveling was the author of three books, two of them on the art of rebounding in basketball. His memoir, “What You’re Made for: Powerful Life Lessons from My Career in Sports,” Co-authored with Ryan Holiday, was released earlier this year.
Raveling is survived by his wife, Delores; two children, Mark Raveling and Litishia Hall; and grandchildren.y
Image courtesy Today
