George Raveling facts for kids
Raveling, circa 1971
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| Biographical details | |||||||||||||||||
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| Born | June 27, 1937 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
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| Died | September 1, 2025 (aged 88) | ||||||||||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||||||||
| Head coaching record | |||||||||||||||||
| Overall | 336–292 (.535) | ||||||||||||||||
| Tournaments | 2–6 (NCAA Division I) 2–2 (NIT) |
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| Accomplishments and honors | |||||||||||||||||
| Awards | |||||||||||||||||
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| Basketball Hall of Fame Inducted in 2015 (profile) |
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| College Basketball Hall of Fame Inducted in 2013 |
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Medal record
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George Henry Raveling (born June 27, 1937, died September 1, 2025) was a famous American basketball player and coach. He played college basketball at Villanova University. Later, he became a head coach for several university teams, including Washington State University, the University of Iowa, and the University of Southern California.
After coaching, Raveling worked for Nike as their global basketball sports marketing director. He was also a sports commentator and is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. You might have seen him portrayed by Marlon Wayans in the movie Air, which tells the story of how Nike signed Michael Jordan.
George's Early Life and School
George Raveling grew up in Washington, D.C.. He didn't start playing basketball until he was in ninth grade. He attended St. Michael's, a boarding school in Pennsylvania.
George faced challenges early in life. He lost his father when he was nine years old. His mother needed special care when he was thirteen. Because of these events, school and learning became very important to him.
College Basketball Star
George went to Villanova University near Philadelphia for college. He played basketball for the Villanova Wildcats. He was an amazing rebounder, setting new records for his school.
He was the team captain in his last year. George led his team to play in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) two years in a row. After college, the Philadelphia Warriors picked him in the 1960 NBA draft.
George later became an assistant coach at Villanova. Then, he moved to Maryland in 1969 to coach with Lefty Driesell. There, he made history as the first African American coach in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
A Special Moment: The "I Have a Dream" Speech
George Raveling was part of a very important moment in history. On August 28, 1963, he was at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. This was where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech.
George was on the stage with Dr. King, helping with security. After the speech, George asked Dr. King if he could have the original pages of the speech. Dr. King handed them to him! George kept these historic pages for many years. He was offered a lot of money for them but said no. In 2021, he gave the speech to Villanova University. Today, you can see it displayed at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.
Coaching College Teams
George Raveling had a long and successful career coaching college basketball.
Leading the Washington State Cougars
In 1972, George Raveling became the head coach for the Washington State Cougars. He was the first African American basketball coach in the Pac-8 Conference (now called the Pac-12). He coached the Cougars for eleven years.
Under his leadership, the Cougars made it to the NCAA tournament twice. This was a big deal, as it was their first time since 1941! George was one of the most successful coaches in Washington State's history. He had many winning seasons.
Some of his talented players included James Donaldson, Craig Ehlo, and Don Collins. These players went on to have great careers, some even playing in the NBA. George was recognized as Coach of the Year multiple times during his time at Washington State.
Coaching the Iowa Hawkeyes
In 1983, George Raveling became the head coach for the University of Iowa. He led the Hawkeyes to two seasons with 20 or more wins. They also earned spots in the NCAA tournament in 1985 and 1986.
Olympic Team Assistant Coach
While coaching at Iowa, George Raveling also had the honor of being an assistant coach for the USA Olympic team in 1984. This team won a gold medal at the Los Angeles Olympics. Famous players like Michael Jordan were on that team!
George was also known for finding and coaching many talented players at Iowa. These included B. J. Armstrong, Kevin Gamble, and Roy Marble, who later played in the NBA.
With the USC Trojans
In 1986, George Raveling moved to Los Angeles to become the head coach for the University of Southern California (USC). During his time at USC, the Trojans played in the NCAA tournament in 1991 and 1992. They also competed in the NIT in 1993 and 1994.
George received several awards while at USC. He was named the Kodak National Coach of the Year in 1992 and the Black Coaches Association Coach of the Year in the same year.
Important Coaching Decisions
When Coach Raveling arrived at USC, there were some changes with the team. Some players, like Hank Gathers and Bo Kimble, had been recruited by the previous coach. Coach Raveling set new rules and expectations for the team.
When some players did not meet these new requirements, he made the tough decision to change their scholarships. As a result, Gathers and Kimble decided to transfer to Loyola Marymount. This was a difficult time, but Coach Raveling believed in setting clear boundaries for his team.
An Accident and Retirement
In September 1994, George Raveling was in a serious car accident in Los Angeles. He was badly hurt and needed a lot of time to recover. Because of his injuries and the long recovery ahead, he decided to retire from coaching at USC. He was 57 years old at the time.
After Coaching: Life with Nike
After retiring from coaching, George Raveling joined Nike. He became the Director for International Basketball, helping to grow the sport around the world. He also wrote two books about basketball rebounding techniques.
George also worked as a sports commentator for TV networks like CBS Sports and FOX Sports Net. He often talked about Pac-10 basketball games. He passed away on September 1, 2025, at the age of 88.
Awards and Recognition
George Raveling received many important awards for his contributions to basketball.
- In 2013, he was given the John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
- He was also inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.
- In 2015, George Raveling was officially inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. This is one of the highest honors in basketball.
See also
In Spanish: George Raveling para niños
