Dale Brown (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Dale Duward Brown is an American former college basketball coach who spent 25 years leading the LSU
Tigers
. His team earned Final Four
appearances in 1981 and 1986. He is also remembered as one of the most vocal critics of the NCAA
because he said it legislated against human dignity.
. He was a star football, basketball, and track performer at St. Leo's High School in Minot, graduating in 1953. During his senior season, he posted the highest scoring average in state basketball history and also set a school record in the quarter mile.
Brown then went to Minot State Teacher's College
, where he was a star athlete, earning 12 varsity letters in football, basketball, and track; the only person to accomplish this in these three sports.
Brown graduated from Minot State in 1957 and received a masters degree at the University of Oregon
in 1964.
1957–59 : Head Coach Basketball, Wrestling, and Track - Columbus H.S. - Columbus, ND
1959–64 : Head Basketball Coach - Bishop Ryan High School
- Minot, ND
1961 - Called back to military service due to Berlin Crisis, Head Coach Basketball and Track - Fort Riley
, KS
(received an honorable discharge from US Army as a Sgt.)
He is a member of the North Dakota Sports Hall of Fame and Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame.
as head coach. The LSU program had received great notoriety during the Press Maravich era because of his All-American son, Pete
. In spite of the publicity, however, LSU was still a losing program, making no NCAA basketball tournament
s and one NIT
appearance (third place) during the Maravich Era. Brown took over a team that finished 10-16 in the 1971-1972 season and a program which had not been to the NCAA tournament since 1954 and had only four winning seasons in 18 years prior to his arrival.
In 25 years prior to Brown, LSU won 288 games and had been to only 2 NCAA Tournaments. During his 25 years, LSU won 448 games and appeared in 13 NCAA Tournaments.
The Tigers regressed in the win/loss column during Brown's next three years at LSU. In each of those seasons, the Tigers had a losing record. However, LSU stuck with Brown, who was quickly developing a reputation for his tireless efforts to promote college basketball in the football-hungry state of Louisiana
.
Former Nicholls State University
head basketball coach Don Landry
, a colleague of Brown in Louisiana, fondly remembered Brown's early years in a 2005 newspaper article:
It was this great intensity and focus that helped Brown win over LSU fans, players and recruits. He also developed a reputation for being a powerful and inspirational speaker. These traits helped Brown earn the nickname that stuck with him throughout his tenure at LSU, "The Master Motivator."
Brown's hard work began paying off in the win/loss column in the 1976-1977 season. Led by the emergence of freshman Durand "Rudy" Macklin
, the Tigers finished with a 15-12 record that year. In 1977-1978, LSU was led again by Macklin, now a first-team all-conference selection. The team finished 18-9, and was 12-6 in the Southeastern Conference
, including a thrilling 95-94 overtime victory over eventual national champion Kentucky with all five LSU starters fouling out of the game.
and Al Green
, LSU finished 23-6. The Tigers also finished 14-4 in the SEC, giving LSU its first conference championship and first NCAA tournament appearance in 25 years. LSU made it to the Sweet 16 of the 1979 NCAA tournament
, but lost to Michigan State
without star player DeWayne Scales who was suspended for the tournament for violating team rules. The Spartans, led by Magic Johnson
, went on to win the National Championship.
Macklin returned to the team for the 1979-1980 season. With Macklin and Scales, LSU had one of the best forward combinations in the country. Macklin was a first-team all-conference selection, and Scales was a second-team selection. In addition, guard Ethan Martin emerged as a second-team selection. The Tigers improved their record again, finishing 26-6. They also finished 14-4 in conference again, and won their first-ever and still only SEC Men's Basketball Tournament
. The Tigers also went one round deeper than the previous year in the 1980 NCAA tournament
. This year, they lost in the Elite 8 to Louisville
. Like Michigan State the year before, Louisville (led by Darrell Griffith) went on to win the National Championship.
The Tigers improved again in the 1980-81 season. In fact, it would be the winningest year in LSU history. This year, Dale Brown took his team to the Final Four
, the second in LSU history, and the first of the Dale Brown era. The team finished 31-5 (most wins in the nation) and won the conference championship with a 17-1 record. The team also set a school record winning 26 straight games, including its first 17 conference games and the only SEC team to ever win 17 consecutive league games in the same season with only a loss to powerhouse Kentucky in Rupp Arena
stopping LSU from becoming the only team to complete an 18-game SEC slate with an unblemished mark. Rudy Macklin was an All-American, as well as First Team All SEC. Ethan Martin also made First Team All SEC, and Howard Carter
made the Second Team. LSU advanced to the Final Four
by beating Wichita State
96-85 in the Elite 8 round of the 1981 NCAA tournament
, played in front of home-state fans in the Louisiana Superdome
. To reach the regional final, LSU defeated future SEC rival Arkansas, coached at the time by Eddie Sutton
, who would tangle with Brown for four seasons at Kentucky.
Unfortunately for Brown and the Tigers, Macklin was injured in the Wichita State game and was not 100 percent for the Final Four
. The Tigers lost in the national semifinal Game to Indiana. In addition, for the third year in a row, LSU was eliminated by the eventual national champion, as Indiana (led by Isiah Thomas
) won it all. Dale Brown was named College Basketball Coach of the Year for his team's performance.
and Leonard Mitchell, but the team would not make the NCAA tournament in 1982 and 1983. The Tigers finished 14-14 and 19-13 in those years, and were invited to the NIT in both seasons but lost in the first round.
The team got back on track in the next two seasons, but these years proved to be even more frustrating. The next wave of star players had emerged. Among them were Jerry "Ice Man" Reynolds
, Derrick Taylor, Nikita Wilson
, Don Redden
and John Williams
(Dale Brown's most celebrated recruit to date). The Tigers had improved regular seasons, finishing 18-11 in 1983-1984 and 19-10 in 1984-1985. The 84-85 team also won the Southeastern Conference
championship with a 13-5 record. However, both seasons ended with tremendous disappointments. In 1984, the Tigers were upset by #10-seed Dayton
. 1985 was even more embarrassing for the Tigers. LSU was a #4-seed going into the 1985 NCAA tournament
, but were beaten badly by #13-seed Navy
(led by a then-unknown David Robinson
).
It was also during this time that Dale Brown began having some of his most notorious run-ins with the NCAA. Brown became an outspoken and relentless critic of the NCAA, calling them "hypocrites," and even "The Gestapo". He has consistently argued that NCAA should be more compassionate when enforcing rules governing compensation for student-athletes especially in situations involving athletes who are truly in need.
The NCAA began conducting a four-year investigation into Brown and the LSU basketball program in the early 1980s. The investigation yielded only some minor infractions. Nothing significant or shocking was uncovered, and Brown was not connected to any of the reported infractions.
Before the season began, Jerry "Ice" Reynolds went pro early. Incoming freshman Tito Horford
was kicked off the team two months into the season. Starting center Zoran Jovanovich injured his knee in December. Nikita Wilson was academically ineligible after the fall semester. Brown was forced late in the season to move shooting guard Ricky Blanton
to starting center. In addition to all these troubles, some LSU players contracted chicken pox during the Southeastern Conference regular season, including star player John Williams. In spite of all these troubles, LSU jumped out to a 14-0 start, and finished with a 22-11 record.
LSU made it into the 1986 NCAA tournament
as an 11-seed. Some people were critical of the inclusion, arguing that a slumping team with 11 losses did not deserve an at-large bid. But thanks in part to an unusual, confusing defense Brown devised, which he called the "Freak Defense," the Tigers overcame their lack of talent and depth to make an unlikely run. After a double-overtime upset victory over #6 seed Purdue
, LSU had to beat the top three seeds in its region to reach the Final Four. The Tigers did just that, defeating #3 seed Memphis State
in the second round (on a last-second shot by Anthony Wilson), #2 seed Georgia Tech
in the Sweet 16, and top seed Kentucky (which had already beaten LSU three times that year) in the Elite 8. The Tigers, however, lost to #2 seed Louisville in the National Semifinals and finished with a 26-12 record. Louisville went on to win the National Championship. LSU's 1986 team is remembered as the first 11-seed to reach the Final Four
, and the only team to beat the top three seeds to get there.
The 1986-87 season was almost a carbon copy of the previous season, except that Dale Brown finished just seconds away from taking LSU to another Final Four. The Tigers lost Don Redden and Derrick Taylor to graduation, Williams went pro, and Blanton was lost for the season with knee surgery. The Tigers were forced to rely on role players and overachievers. The team lost 14 games during the season, but reached the 1987 NCAA tournament
as a #10 seed. LSU won the first game of the tournament in an upset over #7 seed Georgia Tech. Next, LSU beat #3 seed Temple
and #2 seed DePaul
. That set up a showdown with top-seed Indiana in the Elite 8. LSU was in control for most of the game, and had a 9-point lead with 5 minutes remaining, but Indiana mounted a furious comeback, and defeated LSU in a 77-76 heartbreaker in the last 6 seconds. The Hoosiers won the National Championship; it was the fifth time in 9 years that Dale Brown's Tigers were eliminated by the eventual national champion.
The remarkable 1987 season saw LSU give Kentucky its worst defeat ever in Rupp Arena, 76-41. From 1978-1992, the Tigers had great success against the Wildcats, defeating them 17 times in this 15-year span.
LSU struggled again during the 1987-88 regular season. The Tigers entered the 1988 NCAA tournament
with a 16-13 record, barely making the field again, this time as a #9-seed. By now, many LSU fans were not concerned about the poor regular season, as they now just figured that Brown would easily engineer another Cinderella run. But Brown ran out of miracles this time, as the Tigers lost to Georgetown in the first round 66-63 on a last-second shot. In spite of the disappointment in 1988, Dale Brown had already established his reputation as the "Master Motivator;" he was now considered a coach who could get the best out of his least-talented teams through inspiration, sheer will, and the "Freak Defense."
Chris Jackson
, Stanley Roberts
and Vernel Singleton came to LSU in 1988-89 (Roberts was not eligible to play that season.) Shaquille O'Neal
and Maurice Williamson (son of former NBA and ABA star John Williamson
) came in 1989-90. Jamie Brandon committed to LSU in 1991-92. Future NBA first-round choice Geert Hammink
was Shaq's backup at center before becoming an all-conference player in 1993. Of these recruits, Jackson, Roberts, O'Neal and Brandon were McDonald's All Americans. Jackson, a sophomore, and freshmen Roberts and O'Neal only played one year together.
Jackson, who later converted to Islam
and changed his name to Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, was the first of these recruits to become a star. He exploded on the scene to become an All-American in his freshman year. He was the leading scorer in the nation and still holds the record for a freshman, averaging 30.2 points a game. Jackson and fifth-year senior Blanton led LSU to a 20-win season in 1989. The Tigers, however lost in the first round of the 1989 NCAA tournament
to UTEP
, led by future NBA star, Tim Hardaway.
In terms of player talent, the 1989-90 team was the best Dale Brown ever assembled. The roster included 4 future first-round NBA picks (Jackson, Roberts, O'Neal and Hammink), and two of them (Jackson and O'Neal) were current or future All-Americans. The team started the season ranked #2, but failed to meet those lofty expectations by the end of the season. Jackson was named All-American for the second year in a row, and the Tigers finished a very respectable 23-9.They had some big wins against UNLV 107-105, Texas 124-113, Loyola Marymount 148-141, Kentucky 94-81, and Notre Dame 87-64. However, UNLV went on to win the national championship, and Texas and Loyola-Marymount each appeared in the Elite Eight. LSU lost a heartbreaker in the second round of the 1990 NCAA tournament
to Georgia Tech; 94-91. Tech led by future NBA players Kenny Anderson, Dennis Scott, Malcom Mackey and Brian Oliver went on to the Final Four.
After the season, Jackson went on to the NBA and Roberts left to play pro ball in Europe. Their departures allowed O'Neal to blossom into a superstar. He would be named an All-American in 1991 and 1992, and was the 1991 National Player of the Year. He also helped lead LSU to a Southeastern Conference co-championship in 1991. The 1991 team won 20 games and the 1992 squad won 21 but both seasons ended in disappointment. LSU lost badly to Connecticut with an injured O'Neal in the first round of the 1991 NCAA Tournament. In the 1992 NCAA Tournament, LSU lost in the second round to Indiana. During O'Neal's 3 years at LSU, the Tigers won 72% of SEC games, won one SEC conference title and finished second twice.
O'Neal left after the 1991-92 season, but LSU still won 22 games in 1992-93. The Tigers were now led by Hammink and Brandon. But as had become the custom in recent years, LSU lost early in the 1993 NCAA tournament
. This year, the Tigers were eliminated by California
and its superstar freshman, Jason Kidd
,on a last second shot, 66-64 in the first round. In spite of all the talent and five straight 20-win seasons between 1988 and 1993, Brown failed to get any of these teams to the Sweet 16. In fact, the 1993 NCAA tournament appearance would be the last post-season appearance of the Dale Brown era, and the school's last until 2000.
In 1993-94 Brown brought in two more McDonald's All Americans: Randy Livingston
and Ronnie Henderson
. Livingston's LSU career was limited to 29 games. Serious knee injuries kept him from becoming the superstar he was projected to be; he was forced to go pro early before knee problems made him completely undraftable. Henderson had a good career, but had few good players to help him out. Former Memphis
star Sylvester Ford joined the team in 1995, but he injured his knee early and was eventually dismissed from the team.
In 1996-97 Dale Brown brought in his last star recruit: Baton Rouge
high school phenom Lester Earl. Earl lasted 11 games at LSU before he was suspended. He transferred to the University of Kansas soon afterward. While at Kansas, Earl said that an LSU assistant coach gave him money when he was at LSU. The NCAA quickly began an investigation. It found no evidence that Brown or his assistants paid Earl. However, it did find that a former booster paid Earl about $5,000 while he was attending LSU. LSU was placed on probation in 1998.
The probation remains a sore subject for many people in Louisiana. Many Brown and LSU supporters were angry with the NCAA's decision. They were convinced that the NCAA unfairly came down hard on LSU only because Dale Brown had long been a thorn in its side. They were also angry that Earl received immunity, never had to repay the money, and would eventually regain the eligibility he lost when he transferred from LSU. In August 2007, Lester Earl made comments that suggest that the witch hunt theory may have been true (see "Retirement from LSU").
Brown announced his retirement halfway through the 1996-1997 season, which would be effective at the end of the year.
analyst and is a motivational speaker and author of several books. He is also the CEO of the Dale Brown Foundation established in 1986 to help those in need. The Foundation was very active after the hurricanes devastated Louisiana in 2005.
In 2001, reports surfaced that Brown was considering running for the United States House of Representatives
in North Dakota
. Republicans
in the state tried to persuade Brown to challenge incumbent
Democrat
Earl Pomeroy
, but he decided against it. Two years later his name surfaced again, this time as a potential candidate to run for the United States Senate
in 2004 against incumbent
Democrat
Byron Dorgan
. After several trips to Washington, D.C., he decided not to run. Brown suffered a stroke
on April 24, 2003, but made a strong recovery and was back at work a month later.
In 2004, former LSU athletic director and basketball player Joe Dean
, who announced many LSU games as a television color commentator
during Brown's tenure as a coach and later selected Brown's successor, John Brady
, submitted a letter to a Baton Rouge newspaper saying that he believes that the basketball floor at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center
should be named after Brown. In addition, LSU honored Brown and his 1986 team in February on the 20th anniversary of their improbable run to the Final Four
. Many fans consider Brown to be one of the best human beings and better coaches they have seen in the college ranks.
In the summer of 2007, Brown appeared on the ABC show Shaq's Big Challenge to offer words of encouragement to Shaquille O'Neal about helping obese children. He also was an advisor to Matthew McConaughey
, who played the role of Marshall University
football coach Jack Lengyel
in the movie We Are Marshall
.
In the August 22, 2007 Baton Rouge Advocate, Lester Earl issued an apology to Brown, then-assistant head coach Johnny Jones, and LSU in general for his role in the NCAA investigation. Earl now claims that the NCAA pressured him into making false claims against Dale Brown or else he would lose years of NCAA eligibility.
"I was pressured into telling them SOMETHING. I was 19 years old at that time. The NCAA intimidated me, manipulated me into making up things, and basically encouraged me to lie, in order to be able to finish my playing career at Kansas. They told me if we don't find any dirt on Coach Brown you won't be allowed to play but one more year at Kansas. I caused great harm, heartache and difficulties for so many people. I feel sorriest for hurting Coach Brown. Coach Brown, I apologize to you for tarnishing your magnificent career at LSU."
The NCAA has declined additional comment on the situation. Brown says that he has forgiven Earl.
"The most interesting journey that a person can make is discovering himself. I believe Lester has done that, and I forgive him."
and won the Talent and Miss Congeniality awards in the 1958 Miss North Dakota Pageant. They have a daughter Robyn Brown Prudhomme and three grandsons, Christopher, Peyton, and Cameron.
Only 6 coaches in the SEC have led their teams to two Final Fours or more. They are Dale Brown, Billy Donovan, Joe Hall, Rick Pitino, Nolan Richardson, and Adolph Rupp.
On nine occasions Brown was selected as the SEC Coach of the Year or Runner-Up. He was twice chosen as the National Coach of the Year. In a 10 year span from 1977–1986, LSU is the only school to finish in the first division of the SEC. He has the distinction of beating Kentucky more than any coach in the nation. 110 of 160 of his players received their college degrees. He is a member of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame. In 2004 he was inducted as an SEC Living Legend. In 2010, the Tiger Rag, the Bible of LSU sports, ranked Brown in the top 5 of the most influential people in LSU athletics history.
In 1982, Brown coached the West team in the College All-Star game, defeating the Bob Knight coached East team, 102-68. In 1990, he coached the South team in the National Olympic Festival, winning the gold medal over the Lon Kruger coached North team, 95-94.
During Brown's era basketball rose to a level that no one could have ever possibly imagined. LSU holds the record for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th largest paid attendance for a regular season game in college basketball history.
Legendary Coach John Wooden and Billy Packer CBS television analyst have paid Coach Brown wonderful tributes about his career at LSU.
John Wooden said, "Dale did an outstanding job in raising the level of LSU basketball to the status of equality to anyone in the country. Also, if heads of states throughout this troubled world of ours had real concern and consideration for others as Dale Brown, I doubt if our racial, religious, and political problems would be a major issue."
Billy Packer stated, "Dale Brown is one of those rare individuals who has the ability to take on the toughest of tasks regardless of the odds against success and come out a winner. He has proven to be one of college basketball's best and a fine coach and man."
Most Overall Wins - 448
Most SEC Wins - 238
Most Wins in a Season - 31
Most Consecutive Wins in a Season - 26
Most Consecutive SEC Wins in a Season - 17
Most Consecutive Non-Losing Seasons - 17
Most SEC Championships - 4
Most SEC 1st Division finishes - 18
Only SEC Tournament Championship - 1980
Most Wins over Kentucky - 18 of LSU's 24
Most NCAA tournament Appearances - 13 of LSU's 20
Most Consecutive national tournaments - 15 of LSU's 24
Most Final Four appearances - 2 of LSU's 4
Highest Finish in the polls - 2nd in 1980
Scored the Most Points in a Single Game - 159, and the 2nd most -148
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
Tigers
LSU Tigers basketball
The Louisiana State Tigers basketball team represents Louisiana State University in NCAA Division I men's college basketball. The team is currently coached by Trent Johnson and has enjoyed recent success, including a Final Four run in the 2005–2006 season. Past coaches include John Brady, Press...
. His team earned Final Four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
appearances in 1981 and 1986. He is also remembered as one of the most vocal critics of the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
because he said it legislated against human dignity.
Life in North Dakota: 1935–64
Brown was born in Minot, North DakotaMinot, North Dakota
Minot is a city located in north central North Dakota in the United States. It is most widely known for the Air Force base located approximately 15 miles north of the city. With a population of 40,888 at the 2010 census, Minot is the fourth largest city in the state...
. He was a star football, basketball, and track performer at St. Leo's High School in Minot, graduating in 1953. During his senior season, he posted the highest scoring average in state basketball history and also set a school record in the quarter mile.
Brown then went to Minot State Teacher's College
Minot State University
Minot State University is a four-year institution of higher learning in Minot, North Dakota. Founded in 1913 as a normal school, Minot State University is the third-largest university in North Dakota, offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs.Minot State University was founded in 1913...
, where he was a star athlete, earning 12 varsity letters in football, basketball, and track; the only person to accomplish this in these three sports.
Brown graduated from Minot State in 1957 and received a masters degree at the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
in 1964.
1957–59 : Head Coach Basketball, Wrestling, and Track - Columbus H.S. - Columbus, ND
Columbus, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 151 people, 83 households, and 44 families residing in the city. The population density was 548.5 people per square mile . There were 142 housing units at an average density of 515.8 per square mile...
1959–64 : Head Basketball Coach - Bishop Ryan High School
Bishop Ryan High School
Bishop Ryan High School is a Catholic high school in Minot, North Dakota. It is located in the Diocese of Bismarck, and is a part of Minot Catholic Schools. The school opened in 1959, replacing St. Leo's, and was named for Vincent James Ryan, the second bishop of the diocese...
- Minot, ND
1961 - Called back to military service due to Berlin Crisis, Head Coach Basketball and Track - Fort Riley
Fort Riley
Fort Riley is a United States Army installation located in Northeast Kansas, on the Kansas River, between Junction City and Manhattan. The Fort Riley Military Reservation covers 100,656 acres in Geary and Riley counties and includes two census-designated places: Fort Riley North and Fort...
, KS
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
(received an honorable discharge from US Army as a Sgt.)
He is a member of the North Dakota Sports Hall of Fame and Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame.
Leaving North Dakota: 1964–72
- 1964-65 : Jr. High School Basketball Coach - Garfield Junior High School (renamed Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School)- Berkeley, CaliforniaBerkeley, CaliforniaBerkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
- 1965-66 : Head Basketball Coach - Palm Springs H.S. - Palm Springs, CaliforniaPalm Springs, CaliforniaPalm Springs is a desert city in Riverside County, California, within the Coachella Valley. It is located approximately 37 miles east of San Bernardino, 111 miles east of Los Angeles and 136 miles northeast of San Diego...
- 1966-71 : Asst. Basketball Coach - Utah State UniversityUtah State UniversityUtah State University is a public university located in Logan, Utah. It is a land-grant and space-grant institution and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities....
- Logan, UtahLogan, Utah-Layout of the City:Logan's city grid originates from its Main and Center Street block, with Main Street running north and south, and Center east and west. Each block north, east, south, or west of the origin accumulates in additions of 100 , though some streets have non-numeric names... - 1971-72 : Asst. Basketball Coach - Washington State UniversityWashington State UniversityWashington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
- Pullman, WashingtonPullman, WashingtonPullman is the largest city in Whitman County, Washington, United States. The population was 24,675 at the 2000 census and 29,799 according to the 2010 census...
Taking the LSU Job: 1972
He came to LSU in 1972, replacing Press MaravichPress Maravich
Petar "Press" Maravich was an American college and professional basketball coach. He received the nickname "Press" for always having gossip-styled updates in his hometown of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, a Pittsburgh suburb. Maravich Sr...
as head coach. The LSU program had received great notoriety during the Press Maravich era because of his All-American son, Pete
Pete Maravich
Peter "Pistol Pete" Press Maravich was an American professional basketball player. Born and raised in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Maravich starred in college at Louisiana State University and played for three NBA teams until injuries induced him to retire in 1980...
. In spite of the publicity, however, LSU was still a losing program, making no NCAA basketball tournament
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
s and one NIT
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
appearance (third place) during the Maravich Era. Brown took over a team that finished 10-16 in the 1971-1972 season and a program which had not been to the NCAA tournament since 1954 and had only four winning seasons in 18 years prior to his arrival.
In 25 years prior to Brown, LSU won 288 games and had been to only 2 NCAA Tournaments. During his 25 years, LSU won 448 games and appeared in 13 NCAA Tournaments.
Early Years: 1972-78
Brown had a winning record in his first season at LSU and he was voted as SEC Coach of the Year. The Tigers finished 14-10, with a 9-9 record in the Southeastern Conference. In his first home game, the Tigers beat #11 Memphis State 94-81, who went on to become NCAA Runner-Up. The Tigers were picked to finish last in the SEC but shocked everybody by finishing 5th.The Tigers regressed in the win/loss column during Brown's next three years at LSU. In each of those seasons, the Tigers had a losing record. However, LSU stuck with Brown, who was quickly developing a reputation for his tireless efforts to promote college basketball in the football-hungry state of Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
.
Former Nicholls State University
Nicholls State University
Nicholls State University, founded in 1948, is a public university located in Thibodaux, Louisiana, USA. Nicholls is part of the University of Louisiana System of universities. Originally called Francis T. Nicholls Junior College, the institution split from the Louisiana State University System in...
head basketball coach Don Landry
Don Landry
Don Landry is a Canadian sports broadcaster who formerly hosted the Morning Show on The Fan 590 with Gord Stellick.Landry, along with Stellick, were the brains behind Chacin Cologne...
, a colleague of Brown in Louisiana, fondly remembered Brown's early years in a 2005 newspaper article:
"As soon as he was hired he started traveling the state and giving out nets. Wherever there was a basketball goal, he would stop and introduce himself as the new coach at LSU and hand out nets. I had never heard of such a thing and I really looked forward to meeting him after learning how hard he worked, how aggressive he was and how conscious he was of spreading the word about basketball in this state."
It was this great intensity and focus that helped Brown win over LSU fans, players and recruits. He also developed a reputation for being a powerful and inspirational speaker. These traits helped Brown earn the nickname that stuck with him throughout his tenure at LSU, "The Master Motivator."
Brown's hard work began paying off in the win/loss column in the 1976-1977 season. Led by the emergence of freshman Durand "Rudy" Macklin
Rudy Macklin
Durand "Rudy" Macklin is an American former professional basketball player.A 6'7" forward from Louisville, Kentucky, Macklin played at Louisiana State University from 1976 to 1981. In his very first game for LSU, he grabbed 32 rebounds against Tulane University...
, the Tigers finished with a 15-12 record that year. In 1977-1978, LSU was led again by Macklin, now a first-team all-conference selection. The team finished 18-9, and was 12-6 in the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
, including a thrilling 95-94 overtime victory over eventual national champion Kentucky with all five LSU starters fouling out of the game.
Glory Years: 1979-81
In the 1978-1979 season, Dale Brown's Tigers dramatically improved their record, in spite of losing Rudy Macklin to injury. Led by all-conference first team members DeWayne ScalesDeWayne Scales
DeWayne Jay Scales is a retired American professional basketball player.A 6'8" forward from Louisiana State University, Scales played in the NBA from 1980 to 1984 as a member of the New York Knicks and Washington Bullets. Scales averaged 4.6 points per game in his NBA career.-Note:...
and Al Green
Al Green (basketball)
Al Green is a retired naturalised Australian professional basketball player originally from the United States who played his career in the Australian National Basketball League from 1981 until his retirement in at the end of 1993.-School/College career:Born and bred in the South Bronx, Al Green...
, LSU finished 23-6. The Tigers also finished 14-4 in the SEC, giving LSU its first conference championship and first NCAA tournament appearance in 25 years. LSU made it to the Sweet 16 of the 1979 NCAA tournament
1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 40 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 9, 1979, and ended with the championship game on March 26 in Salt Lake City, Utah...
, but lost to Michigan State
Michigan State Spartans men's basketball
The Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team represents Michigan State University and competes in the Big Ten Conference of NCAA Division I. The team currently plays at the Breslin Student Events Center...
without star player DeWayne Scales who was suspended for the tournament for violating team rules. The Spartans, led by Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson
Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player who played point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . After winning championships in high school and college, Johnson was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Lakers...
, went on to win the National Championship.
Macklin returned to the team for the 1979-1980 season. With Macklin and Scales, LSU had one of the best forward combinations in the country. Macklin was a first-team all-conference selection, and Scales was a second-team selection. In addition, guard Ethan Martin emerged as a second-team selection. The Tigers improved their record again, finishing 26-6. They also finished 14-4 in conference again, and won their first-ever and still only SEC Men's Basketball Tournament
SEC Men's Basketball Tournament
The SEC Men's Basketball Tournament is the conference tournament in basketball for the Southeastern Conference . It is a single-elimination tournament that involves all league schools . Its seeding is based on regular season records...
. The Tigers also went one round deeper than the previous year in the 1980 NCAA tournament
1980 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1980 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 48 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 6, 1980, and ended with the championship game on March 24 in Indianapolis, Indiana...
. This year, they lost in the Elite 8 to Louisville
Louisville Cardinals men's basketball
The Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team is the 18th winningest college basketball team in NCAA Division I history and has the 10th best winning percentage in college basketball history. Currently coached by Rick Pitino, the Cardinals of the University of Louisville have been to 37 NCAA...
. Like Michigan State the year before, Louisville (led by Darrell Griffith) went on to win the National Championship.
The Tigers improved again in the 1980-81 season. In fact, it would be the winningest year in LSU history. This year, Dale Brown took his team to the Final Four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
, the second in LSU history, and the first of the Dale Brown era. The team finished 31-5 (most wins in the nation) and won the conference championship with a 17-1 record. The team also set a school record winning 26 straight games, including its first 17 conference games and the only SEC team to ever win 17 consecutive league games in the same season with only a loss to powerhouse Kentucky in Rupp Arena
Rupp Arena
Rupp Arena is an arena located in downtown Lexington, Kentucky, U.S. Since its opening in 1976, it has been the centerpiece of Lexington Center, a convention and shopping facility owned by an arm of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, and serves as home court to the University of...
stopping LSU from becoming the only team to complete an 18-game SEC slate with an unblemished mark. Rudy Macklin was an All-American, as well as First Team All SEC. Ethan Martin also made First Team All SEC, and Howard Carter
Howard Carter (basketball)
Howard O'Neal "Hi-C" Carter is a retired American professional basketball player....
made the Second Team. LSU advanced to the Final Four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
by beating Wichita State
Wichita State University
Wichita State University is a NCAA Division I public university in Wichita, Kansas with selective admissions. WSU is one of six state universities governed by the Kansas Board of Regents. The current president is Dr. Donald Beggs....
96-85 in the Elite 8 round of the 1981 NCAA tournament
1981 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1981 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 48 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 1981, and ended with the championship game on March 30 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
, played in front of home-state fans in the Louisiana Superdome
Louisiana Superdome
The Mercedes-Benz Superdome, previously known as the Louisiana Superdome and colloquially known as the Superdome, is a sports and exhibition arena located in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA...
. To reach the regional final, LSU defeated future SEC rival Arkansas, coached at the time by Eddie Sutton
Eddie Sutton
Eddie Sutton is an American former college head coach with 36 years of Division I basketball coaching experience at Creighton, Arkansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma State , and the University of San Francisco...
, who would tangle with Brown for four seasons at Kentucky.
Unfortunately for Brown and the Tigers, Macklin was injured in the Wichita State game and was not 100 percent for the Final Four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
. The Tigers lost in the national semifinal Game to Indiana. In addition, for the third year in a row, LSU was eliminated by the eventual national champion, as Indiana (led by Isiah Thomas
Isiah Thomas
Isiah Lord Thomas III , nicknamed "Zeke",is the men's basketball coach for the FIU Golden Panthers, and a retired American professional basketball player who played point guard for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association from 1981 until 1994. He led the "Bad Boys" to the NBA...
) won it all. Dale Brown was named College Basketball Coach of the Year for his team's performance.
Disappointment and Investigation: 1982-85
Like many other teams that reach the Final Four with a senior superstar, Dale Brown's Tigers experienced a decline in the next two years. LSU still had star players in Howard CarterHoward Carter (basketball)
Howard O'Neal "Hi-C" Carter is a retired American professional basketball player....
and Leonard Mitchell, but the team would not make the NCAA tournament in 1982 and 1983. The Tigers finished 14-14 and 19-13 in those years, and were invited to the NIT in both seasons but lost in the first round.
The team got back on track in the next two seasons, but these years proved to be even more frustrating. The next wave of star players had emerged. Among them were Jerry "Ice Man" Reynolds
Jerry Reynolds (basketball player)
Jerry "Ice" Reynolds is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1st round of the 1985 NBA Draft. A 6'8" guard-forward from LSU and Madison Area Technical College, Reynolds played in eight NBA seasons from 1985–92 until 1995–96...
, Derrick Taylor, Nikita Wilson
Nikita Wilson
Nikita Franciscus Wilson is a retired American professional basketball player. He was selected by the National Basketball Association's Portland Trail Blazers with the 30th overall pick in the second round of the 1987 NBA Draft.Wilson, who played college basketball at Louisiana State University,...
, Don Redden
Don Redden
Don Redden was an American basketball player. Redden, a 6-foot-5 guard/forward for Louisiana State University who averaged 13 points and five rebounds as a senior in 1985-86, was captain of the LSU team that reached the 1986 Final Four...
and John Williams
John Sam Williams
John Sam Williams is a retired American basketball player. Williams played collegiately for LSU, and was drafted into the National Basketball Association by the Washington Bullets in 1986 with the 12th overall pick.His girth earned him the nickname 'Hotplate' Williams, in part to help distinguish...
(Dale Brown's most celebrated recruit to date). The Tigers had improved regular seasons, finishing 18-11 in 1983-1984 and 19-10 in 1984-1985. The 84-85 team also won the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
championship with a 13-5 record. However, both seasons ended with tremendous disappointments. In 1984, the Tigers were upset by #10-seed Dayton
Dayton Flyers
The Dayton Flyers are the University of Dayton's intercollegiate athletic teams, which are based in Dayton, Ohio. The Flyers' home arena is the University of Dayton Arena. The name is a reference and homage to Daytonians Orville and Wilbur Wright who pioneered heavier than air flight...
. 1985 was even more embarrassing for the Tigers. LSU was a #4-seed going into the 1985 NCAA tournament
1985 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1985 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. This was the first year the field was expanded to 64 teams, from 53 in the previous year's tournament. It began...
, but were beaten badly by #13-seed Navy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
(led by a then-unknown David Robinson
David Robinson (basketball)
David Maurice Robinson is a retired American NBA basketball player, who played center for the San Antonio Spurs for his entire NBA career. Based on his prior service as an officer in the United States Navy, Robinson earned the nickname "The Admiral". He and teammate power forward Tim Duncan were...
).
It was also during this time that Dale Brown began having some of his most notorious run-ins with the NCAA. Brown became an outspoken and relentless critic of the NCAA, calling them "hypocrites," and even "The Gestapo". He has consistently argued that NCAA should be more compassionate when enforcing rules governing compensation for student-athletes especially in situations involving athletes who are truly in need.
The NCAA began conducting a four-year investigation into Brown and the LSU basketball program in the early 1980s. The investigation yielded only some minor infractions. Nothing significant or shocking was uncovered, and Brown was not connected to any of the reported infractions.
"The Master Motivator": 1986-88
The 1985-86 season was well on its way to being the most disastrous season yet for Dale Brown and his Tigers. However, Brown miraculously rallied the team and turned the season into what is fondly known to many LSU fans as the greatest season in the school's basketball history. The Tigers overcame several obstacles to reach their third-ever Final Four, the second under Dale Brown.Before the season began, Jerry "Ice" Reynolds went pro early. Incoming freshman Tito Horford
Tito Horford
Tito Horford is a retired Dominican professional basketball player who was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2nd round of the 1988 NBA Draft. Horford played three years in the NBA, two with the Bucks from 1988–1990, and a short stint with the Washington Bullets during the 1993-94 season...
was kicked off the team two months into the season. Starting center Zoran Jovanovich injured his knee in December. Nikita Wilson was academically ineligible after the fall semester. Brown was forced late in the season to move shooting guard Ricky Blanton
Ricky Blanton
Ricky Wayne Blanton is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the NBA's Phoenix Suns in the 2nd round of the 1989 NBA Draft...
to starting center. In addition to all these troubles, some LSU players contracted chicken pox during the Southeastern Conference regular season, including star player John Williams. In spite of all these troubles, LSU jumped out to a 14-0 start, and finished with a 22-11 record.
LSU made it into the 1986 NCAA tournament
1986 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1986 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 13, 1986, and ended with the championship game on March 31 in Dallas, Texas...
as an 11-seed. Some people were critical of the inclusion, arguing that a slumping team with 11 losses did not deserve an at-large bid. But thanks in part to an unusual, confusing defense Brown devised, which he called the "Freak Defense," the Tigers overcame their lack of talent and depth to make an unlikely run. After a double-overtime upset victory over #6 seed Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers men's basketball
The Purdue Boilermakers basketball team is a college basketball program that competes in NCAA Division I and is a member of the Big Ten Conference. Purdue basketball holds the record for most Big Ten Championships with 22, along with being the only program in the conference to boast winning records...
, LSU had to beat the top three seeds in its region to reach the Final Four. The Tigers did just that, defeating #3 seed Memphis State
Memphis Tigers basketball
The Memphis Tigers men's basketball team represents the University of Memphis in NCAA Division I men's college basketball. The Tigers compete in Conference USA, in which they have won six regular season and four conference tournament championships. As of 2011, the Tigers have the 29th highest...
in the second round (on a last-second shot by Anthony Wilson), #2 seed Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets men's basketball
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets men's basketball team represents the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in NCAA Division I basketball. The team plays its home games in Alexander Memorial Coliseum. Under the tenure of Bobby Cremins, Georgia Tech established itself as a national force in basketball...
in the Sweet 16, and top seed Kentucky (which had already beaten LSU three times that year) in the Elite 8. The Tigers, however, lost to #2 seed Louisville in the National Semifinals and finished with a 26-12 record. Louisville went on to win the National Championship. LSU's 1986 team is remembered as the first 11-seed to reach the Final Four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
, and the only team to beat the top three seeds to get there.
The 1986-87 season was almost a carbon copy of the previous season, except that Dale Brown finished just seconds away from taking LSU to another Final Four. The Tigers lost Don Redden and Derrick Taylor to graduation, Williams went pro, and Blanton was lost for the season with knee surgery. The Tigers were forced to rely on role players and overachievers. The team lost 14 games during the season, but reached the 1987 NCAA tournament
1987 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1987 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 1987, and ended with the championship game on March 30 in New Orleans, Louisiana...
as a #10 seed. LSU won the first game of the tournament in an upset over #7 seed Georgia Tech. Next, LSU beat #3 seed Temple
Temple Owls
Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has a very long-running athletic program. The school's sports teams are called the Owls, originating from the university's early days as a night school. The current athletic director is Bill Bradshaw....
and #2 seed DePaul
DePaul University
DePaul University is a private institution of higher education and research in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by the Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from the 17th century French priest Saint Vincent de Paul...
. That set up a showdown with top-seed Indiana in the Elite 8. LSU was in control for most of the game, and had a 9-point lead with 5 minutes remaining, but Indiana mounted a furious comeback, and defeated LSU in a 77-76 heartbreaker in the last 6 seconds. The Hoosiers won the National Championship; it was the fifth time in 9 years that Dale Brown's Tigers were eliminated by the eventual national champion.
The remarkable 1987 season saw LSU give Kentucky its worst defeat ever in Rupp Arena, 76-41. From 1978-1992, the Tigers had great success against the Wildcats, defeating them 17 times in this 15-year span.
LSU struggled again during the 1987-88 regular season. The Tigers entered the 1988 NCAA tournament
1988 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1988 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 17, 1988, and ended with the championship game on April 4 returning to Kansas City, Missouri...
with a 16-13 record, barely making the field again, this time as a #9-seed. By now, many LSU fans were not concerned about the poor regular season, as they now just figured that Brown would easily engineer another Cinderella run. But Brown ran out of miracles this time, as the Tigers lost to Georgetown in the first round 66-63 on a last-second shot. In spite of the disappointment in 1988, Dale Brown had already established his reputation as the "Master Motivator;" he was now considered a coach who could get the best out of his least-talented teams through inspiration, sheer will, and the "Freak Defense."
Underachieving With Superstars: 1989-93
Dale Brown reached the Final Four with a talented, veteran team in 1981. He then made it again with a team of mostly overachievers in 1986. Now, he finally had the opportunity to see what he could do with bona fide superstars. Unfortunately for Brown, these years arguably proved to be the most disappointing of his LSU career. It was during these years that the "Master Motivator" label backfired on him. By the end of the 1992 season, Brown was now known as a coach who could get the most out of his least talented teams, but didn't get the best results with NBA caliber talent. However, four of these stars left school early to play pro ball, so that assumption is not totally fair.Chris Jackson
Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf
Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf is an American professional basketball player.-Life and career:Abdul-Rauf was born in Gulfport, Mississippi. After a record-setting college career at Louisiana State University, he was selected with the third pick in the 1990 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets...
, Stanley Roberts
Stanley Roberts
Stanley Corvet Roberts is a retired American professional basketball player, in the center position.-High school and college:...
and Vernel Singleton came to LSU in 1988-89 (Roberts was not eligible to play that season.) Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal , nicknamed "Shaq" , is a former American professional basketball player. Standing tall and weighing , he was one of the heaviest players ever to play in the NBA...
and Maurice Williamson (son of former NBA and ABA star John Williamson
John Williamson (basketball)
John Lee Williamson was an American basketball player.Williamson played high school basketball at Wilbur Cross High School in New Haven, Connecticut and played college basketball at New Mexico State University. He was a 6'2" guard...
) came in 1989-90. Jamie Brandon committed to LSU in 1991-92. Future NBA first-round choice Geert Hammink
Geert Hammink
Geert Hendrik Hammink is a retired Dutch professional basketball player who was selected by the Orlando Magic in the 1st round of the 1993 NBA Draft. Hammink played for the Magic and had a small stint with the Golden State Warriors in 3 NBA seasons. In his NBA career, Hammink appeared in 8 games...
was Shaq's backup at center before becoming an all-conference player in 1993. Of these recruits, Jackson, Roberts, O'Neal and Brandon were McDonald's All Americans. Jackson, a sophomore, and freshmen Roberts and O'Neal only played one year together.
Jackson, who later converted to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
and changed his name to Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, was the first of these recruits to become a star. He exploded on the scene to become an All-American in his freshman year. He was the leading scorer in the nation and still holds the record for a freshman, averaging 30.2 points a game. Jackson and fifth-year senior Blanton led LSU to a 20-win season in 1989. The Tigers, however lost in the first round of the 1989 NCAA tournament
1989 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1989 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 1989, and ended with the championship game on April 3 in Seattle, Washington...
to UTEP
University of Texas at El Paso
The University of Texas at El Paso is a four-year state university, and is a component institution of the University of Texas System. Its campus is located on the bank of the Rio Grande in El Paso, Texas. The school was founded in 1914 as The Texas State School of Mines and Metallurgy,...
, led by future NBA star, Tim Hardaway.
In terms of player talent, the 1989-90 team was the best Dale Brown ever assembled. The roster included 4 future first-round NBA picks (Jackson, Roberts, O'Neal and Hammink), and two of them (Jackson and O'Neal) were current or future All-Americans. The team started the season ranked #2, but failed to meet those lofty expectations by the end of the season. Jackson was named All-American for the second year in a row, and the Tigers finished a very respectable 23-9.They had some big wins against UNLV 107-105, Texas 124-113, Loyola Marymount 148-141, Kentucky 94-81, and Notre Dame 87-64. However, UNLV went on to win the national championship, and Texas and Loyola-Marymount each appeared in the Elite Eight. LSU lost a heartbreaker in the second round of the 1990 NCAA tournament
1990 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1990 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 15, 1990, and ended with the championship game on April 2 in Denver, Colorado...
to Georgia Tech; 94-91. Tech led by future NBA players Kenny Anderson, Dennis Scott, Malcom Mackey and Brian Oliver went on to the Final Four.
After the season, Jackson went on to the NBA and Roberts left to play pro ball in Europe. Their departures allowed O'Neal to blossom into a superstar. He would be named an All-American in 1991 and 1992, and was the 1991 National Player of the Year. He also helped lead LSU to a Southeastern Conference co-championship in 1991. The 1991 team won 20 games and the 1992 squad won 21 but both seasons ended in disappointment. LSU lost badly to Connecticut with an injured O'Neal in the first round of the 1991 NCAA Tournament. In the 1992 NCAA Tournament, LSU lost in the second round to Indiana. During O'Neal's 3 years at LSU, the Tigers won 72% of SEC games, won one SEC conference title and finished second twice.
O'Neal left after the 1991-92 season, but LSU still won 22 games in 1992-93. The Tigers were now led by Hammink and Brandon. But as had become the custom in recent years, LSU lost early in the 1993 NCAA tournament
1993 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1993 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 18, 1993, and ended with the championship game on April 5 in New Orleans, Louisiana...
. This year, the Tigers were eliminated by California
California Golden Bears
The California Golden Bears is the nickname used for 29 varsity athletic programs and various club teams of the University of California, Berkeley...
and its superstar freshman, Jason Kidd
Jason Kidd
Jason Frederick Kidd is an American professional basketball point guard who plays for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association. Raised in Oakland, California, Kidd played college basketball at the University of California, Berkeley and was drafted second overall by the Dallas...
,on a last second shot, 66-64 in the first round. In spite of all the talent and five straight 20-win seasons between 1988 and 1993, Brown failed to get any of these teams to the Sweet 16. In fact, the 1993 NCAA tournament appearance would be the last post-season appearance of the Dale Brown era, and the school's last until 2000.
Mediocrity and the Lester Earl Incident: 1994-97
Dale Brown's final four years at LSU were mostly forgettable. All four seasons ended in losing records. Brown was still bringing talented players into the program, but things did not work out due to the loss of numerous star players because of injuries, dimissal from the team, or leaving early for the NBA.In 1993-94 Brown brought in two more McDonald's All Americans: Randy Livingston
Randy Livingston
Randy Livingston is a former American professional basketball player who last played point guard for the NBA Development League's Idaho Stampede. He stands 6 ft 4 in and weighs 209 lb...
and Ronnie Henderson
Ronnie Henderson
Ronnie Henderson , a 6'4" shooting guard, was an American basketball player.A cousin of fellow Gulfport native and two time "Mr. Basketball" for the state of Mississippi Chris Jackson a.k.a...
. Livingston's LSU career was limited to 29 games. Serious knee injuries kept him from becoming the superstar he was projected to be; he was forced to go pro early before knee problems made him completely undraftable. Henderson had a good career, but had few good players to help him out. Former Memphis
Memphis Tigers basketball
The Memphis Tigers men's basketball team represents the University of Memphis in NCAA Division I men's college basketball. The Tigers compete in Conference USA, in which they have won six regular season and four conference tournament championships. As of 2011, the Tigers have the 29th highest...
star Sylvester Ford joined the team in 1995, but he injured his knee early and was eventually dismissed from the team.
In 1996-97 Dale Brown brought in his last star recruit: Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
high school phenom Lester Earl. Earl lasted 11 games at LSU before he was suspended. He transferred to the University of Kansas soon afterward. While at Kansas, Earl said that an LSU assistant coach gave him money when he was at LSU. The NCAA quickly began an investigation. It found no evidence that Brown or his assistants paid Earl. However, it did find that a former booster paid Earl about $5,000 while he was attending LSU. LSU was placed on probation in 1998.
The probation remains a sore subject for many people in Louisiana. Many Brown and LSU supporters were angry with the NCAA's decision. They were convinced that the NCAA unfairly came down hard on LSU only because Dale Brown had long been a thorn in its side. They were also angry that Earl received immunity, never had to repay the money, and would eventually regain the eligibility he lost when he transferred from LSU. In August 2007, Lester Earl made comments that suggest that the witch hunt theory may have been true (see "Retirement from LSU").
Brown announced his retirement halfway through the 1996-1997 season, which would be effective at the end of the year.
Retirement from LSU: 1997
After his departure from LSU, Dale Brown kept a low profile in his involvement with LSU athletics. He stayed in Baton Rouge after his retirement and created his own business, Dale Brown Enterprises. Brown has also worked as a college basketballCollege basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
analyst and is a motivational speaker and author of several books. He is also the CEO of the Dale Brown Foundation established in 1986 to help those in need. The Foundation was very active after the hurricanes devastated Louisiana in 2005.
In 2001, reports surfaced that Brown was considering running for the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
. Republicans
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
in the state tried to persuade Brown to challenge incumbent
Incumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Earl Pomeroy
Earl Pomeroy
Earl Pomeroy is a lobbyist and former U.S. Representative for , serving from 1993 until 2011. He is a member of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party.- Early life, education and career :...
, but he decided against it. Two years later his name surfaced again, this time as a potential candidate to run for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in 2004 against incumbent
Incumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Byron Dorgan
Byron Dorgan
Byron Leslie Dorgan is a former United States Senator from North Dakota and is now a senior policy advisor for a Washington, DC law firm. He is a member of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party, the North Dakota affiliate of the Democratic Party. In the Senate, he was Chairman of the Democratic...
. After several trips to Washington, D.C., he decided not to run. Brown suffered a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
on April 24, 2003, but made a strong recovery and was back at work a month later.
In 2004, former LSU athletic director and basketball player Joe Dean
Joe Dean
Joe Dean was an All-SEC basketball player for Louisiana State University from 1950–52 and later became the school's athletic director, serving in the role from 1987–2000.-Early life and playing career:...
, who announced many LSU games as a television color commentator
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
during Brown's tenure as a coach and later selected Brown's successor, John Brady
John Brady (basketball coach)
John Brady is an American college basketball coach and the current head men's basketball coach for the Arkansas State University Red Wolves....
, submitted a letter to a Baton Rouge newspaper saying that he believes that the basketball floor at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center
Pete Maravich Assembly Center
Pete Maravich Assembly Center is a 13,472-seat multi-purpose arena in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The arena opened in 1972. It is home to the Louisiana State University Tigers and Lady Tigers basketball teams. It was originally known as the LSU Assembly Center, but was renamed in memory of Pete...
should be named after Brown. In addition, LSU honored Brown and his 1986 team in February on the 20th anniversary of their improbable run to the Final Four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
. Many fans consider Brown to be one of the best human beings and better coaches they have seen in the college ranks.
In the summer of 2007, Brown appeared on the ABC show Shaq's Big Challenge to offer words of encouragement to Shaquille O'Neal about helping obese children. He also was an advisor to Matthew McConaughey
Matthew McConaughey
Matthew David McConaughey is an American actor.After a series of minor roles in the early 1990s, McConaughey gained notice for his breakout role in Dazed and Confused . He then appeared in films such as A Time to Kill, Contact, U-571, Tiptoes, Sahara, and We Are Marshall...
, who played the role of Marshall University
Marshall Thundering Herd
The Marshall Thundering Herd are the intercollegiate athletic teams that collectively represent the Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Thundering Herd athletic teams compete in Conference USA, which are members of the NCAA Division I...
football coach Jack Lengyel
Jack Lengyel
Jack Lengyel is a software executive and former American football coach, lacrosse coach, and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at the College of Wooster from 1966 to 1970 and at Marshall University from 1971 until 1974, compiling a career college football...
in the movie We Are Marshall
We Are Marshall
We Are Marshall is a 2006 American drama film directed by Joseph McGinty Nichol about the aftermath of the 1970 plane crash that killed 37 football players on the Marshall University Thundering Herd football team as well as five coaches, two athletic trainers, the athletic director, 25 boosters and...
.
In the August 22, 2007 Baton Rouge Advocate, Lester Earl issued an apology to Brown, then-assistant head coach Johnny Jones, and LSU in general for his role in the NCAA investigation. Earl now claims that the NCAA pressured him into making false claims against Dale Brown or else he would lose years of NCAA eligibility.
"I was pressured into telling them SOMETHING. I was 19 years old at that time. The NCAA intimidated me, manipulated me into making up things, and basically encouraged me to lie, in order to be able to finish my playing career at Kansas. They told me if we don't find any dirt on Coach Brown you won't be allowed to play but one more year at Kansas. I caused great harm, heartache and difficulties for so many people. I feel sorriest for hurting Coach Brown. Coach Brown, I apologize to you for tarnishing your magnificent career at LSU."
The NCAA has declined additional comment on the situation. Brown says that he has forgiven Earl.
"The most interesting journey that a person can make is discovering himself. I believe Lester has done that, and I forgive him."
Media
- http://www.dalebrownmovie.com/ A movie about Coach Dale Brown came out in 2011.
- Brown wrote a book about his LSU experiences, Dale Brown's Memoirs From LSU Basketball.
Family
He has been married to the former Vonnie Ness, an internationally renowned folk dance instructor, since 1959. She was a cheerleader at Minot State UniversityMinot State University
Minot State University is a four-year institution of higher learning in Minot, North Dakota. Founded in 1913 as a normal school, Minot State University is the third-largest university in North Dakota, offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs.Minot State University was founded in 1913...
and won the Talent and Miss Congeniality awards in the 1958 Miss North Dakota Pageant. They have a daughter Robyn Brown Prudhomme and three grandsons, Christopher, Peyton, and Cameron.
Summary of Brown's 25 Years at LSU: 1972-97
He is the only SEC coach to have ever appeared in 15 straight national tournaments and only 11 coaches in NCAA history have made more consecutive NCAA appearances (10). Only the legendary Adolph Rupp of Kentucky has won more games in SEC history. Brown and Rupp are the only SEC coaches that had 17 consecutive non-losing seasons. Only 3 coaches in the SEC have won more conference championships, Adolph Rupp, Joe Hall, and Tubby Smith.Only 6 coaches in the SEC have led their teams to two Final Fours or more. They are Dale Brown, Billy Donovan, Joe Hall, Rick Pitino, Nolan Richardson, and Adolph Rupp.
On nine occasions Brown was selected as the SEC Coach of the Year or Runner-Up. He was twice chosen as the National Coach of the Year. In a 10 year span from 1977–1986, LSU is the only school to finish in the first division of the SEC. He has the distinction of beating Kentucky more than any coach in the nation. 110 of 160 of his players received their college degrees. He is a member of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame. In 2004 he was inducted as an SEC Living Legend. In 2010, the Tiger Rag, the Bible of LSU sports, ranked Brown in the top 5 of the most influential people in LSU athletics history.
In 1982, Brown coached the West team in the College All-Star game, defeating the Bob Knight coached East team, 102-68. In 1990, he coached the South team in the National Olympic Festival, winning the gold medal over the Lon Kruger coached North team, 95-94.
During Brown's era basketball rose to a level that no one could have ever possibly imagined. LSU holds the record for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th largest paid attendance for a regular season game in college basketball history.
- 1-20-90 Superdome - 68,112 - LSU 87 Notre Dame 64
- 1-28-89 Superdome - 66,144 - LSU 82 Georgetown 80
- 1-03-92 Superdome - 61,304 - LSU 84 Texas 83
Legendary Coach John Wooden and Billy Packer CBS television analyst have paid Coach Brown wonderful tributes about his career at LSU.
John Wooden said, "Dale did an outstanding job in raising the level of LSU basketball to the status of equality to anyone in the country. Also, if heads of states throughout this troubled world of ours had real concern and consideration for others as Dale Brown, I doubt if our racial, religious, and political problems would be a major issue."
Billy Packer stated, "Dale Brown is one of those rare individuals who has the ability to take on the toughest of tasks regardless of the odds against success and come out a winner. He has proven to be one of college basketball's best and a fine coach and man."
Head coaching record
LSU Basketball Records Established from 1972-1997Most Overall Wins - 448
Most SEC Wins - 238
Most Wins in a Season - 31
Most Consecutive Wins in a Season - 26
Most Consecutive SEC Wins in a Season - 17
Most Consecutive Non-Losing Seasons - 17
Most SEC Championships - 4
Most SEC 1st Division finishes - 18
Only SEC Tournament Championship - 1980
Most Wins over Kentucky - 18 of LSU's 24
Most NCAA tournament Appearances - 13 of LSU's 20
Most Consecutive national tournaments - 15 of LSU's 24
Most Final Four appearances - 2 of LSU's 4
Highest Finish in the polls - 2nd in 1980
Scored the Most Points in a Single Game - 159, and the 2nd most -148