Denny Crum Cause of Death

American basketball coach, Denny Crum has been reported dead. He died at his home at the age of 86 on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. No cause of death has been given yet, but it is known that he was battling health issues for some time.

He was best known as the men’s basketball coach at the University of Louisville from 1971 to 2001; leading the Cardinals to two NCAA championships in 1980 and 1986.

Crum played as a college basketball player at the Los Angeles Pierce College but was later transferred to UCLA to play for John Wooden. When he graduated college in 1958, he served as a freshman basketball coach at UCLA but returned to Pierce College as an assistant coach.

He became the head coach from 1964 through to 1967 and then got rehired by Wooden as a top assistant coach and chief recruiter.

Crum was hired as the head coach by the University of Louisville in 1971. He took over from John Dromo and made the team very successful. With his effort and training, he made the Cardinals one of the most successful college basketball teams.

He took the team to their first-ever NCAA Final Four, however, he lost to John Wooden’s UCLA. He went on to lead the team to five more finals in 1975, 1980, 1982, 1983, and 1986. He is one of the coaches who has the title of being the seventh all-time appearance in the final four.

Crum won the NCAA Tournament championships on March 24, 1980, finally defeating UCLA 59-54.  He also defeated the Duke 72-69 for a second title led. He is one of the 11 coaches to win multiple national championships.

He took the Cardinals to 23 NCAA tournaments out of the 30 seasons he spent as the head coach. He became the second-fastest coach to 500 wins.

Crum also coached the 1977 USA World University Team and won a gold medal. He also won a silver medal as a coach of the Pan American team. He announced his retirement on his 64th birthday; March 2, 2001.