Eric Musselman, the current head men’s basketball coach at the University of Arkansas, has a basketball legacy deeply embedded in his family history, notably through his father, Bill Musselman.
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Bill Musselman was a prominent figure in the world of basketball, having coached in various leagues, including the NCAA, ABA, WBA, CBA, and NBA. Renowned for his trademark intensity and uncompromising attitude, Bill Musselman was once quoted expressing his fierce philosophy, stating, “Defeat is worse than death because you have to live with defeat.”
Tragically, Bill Musselman’s vibrant career and life were cut short by health challenges. On October 30, 1999, he suffered a stroke after Portland’s preseason game against the Phoenix Suns. During the game, Bill Musselman had taken charge as head coach after Mike Dunleavy’s ejection. Following the stroke, he collapsed upon leaving the arena.
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In April 2000, Bill Musselman received a diagnosis of primary systemic amyloidosis, a disease characterized by the accumulation of abnormal proteins in tissues, disrupting organ function. The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, became the backdrop for Bill Musselman’s final days. On May 5, 2000, at 2:45 a.m., he succumbed to heart and kidney failure, marking the end of a basketball era.
The passing of Bill Musselman was a significant loss to the basketball community, and it reverberated through the family he left behind. Eric Musselman, his son, has since carried on the family’s basketball legacy, making his mark as a coach in the collegiate ranks.
The Musselman name continues to be associated with the passion and dedication that Bill Musselman brought to the sport he loved.
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