Former USC basketball coach George Raveling, a Hall of Famer who played a role in Michael Jordan who signed a historical approval agreement with Nike, died. He was 88.
The Van Raveling family said Tuesday in a statement That he ‘had cancer with courage and grace’.
“There are no words to fully record what George meant for his family, friends, colleagues, former players and assistants – and for the world,” said the family statement. “He will be deeply missed, but his aura, energy, divine presence and timeless wisdom live on in everyone he has touched and transformed.”
Raveling, which was included in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015, had a career record of 335-293 from 1972-94 in the state of Washington, Iowa and South California. He had a loss record in his first season at every school before he made several trips to the NCAA tournament.
His success in those programs ended up Raveling on the American Olympic basketball staff in 1984 and 1988.
Jordan was in the 1984 team that won gold at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, and Raveling helped him convince to draw Nike. He introduced Jordan to Sonny Vaccaro to Nike, which helped lead to a contract that Jordan gave his own brand, made him millions of dollars and changed the athletic clothing industry.
Marlon Wayans portrayed Raveling in the film ‘Air’ from 2023 that focused on Nike’s dating of Jordan.
“For more than 40 years he has been blessing my life with wisdom, encouragement and friendship,” Jordan said in a statement. “He was a mentor in all respects and I will always wear deep gratitude for his guidance. I signed with Nike because of George, and without him there would not be Air Jordan.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called Raveling “A Pioneering Force” who helped to turn basketball into an international game.
“During his long and impactful term of office at Nike, George traveled around the world – supervising several generations of players and coaches and promoting the sport that defined his identity,” Silver said in a statement. “He broke barriers as a college basketball coach and was a towering voice in our industry. I appreciated my friendship with George and admired how he led with balance, dignity and respect.”
Raveling was also the original copy of the “I have a dream” speed of Martin Luther King Jr. He worked on the Mars of 1963 on Washington, in which King gave one of the most famous speeches in American history.
While King left, Raveling saw him and asked if he could have the speech, and the pastor handed him to him. Raveling held the copy until 2021, when he gave it to his Alma Mater, Villanova.
He played in Villanova from 1957-60, on average 12.3 points and 14.6 rebounds during his last two seasons. The Philadelphia Warriors set up Raveling in the eighth round in 1960, but he did not play in the NBA.
“The best person, inspiring mentor, most loyal alum and a thoughtful loving friend,” Jay Wright, who coached Villanova to national championships in 2016 and 2018, Posted on X. “Coach Raveling lived his life for others, his heart was restless and friendly and peace now in the Lord!”
The current Villanova coach Kevin Willard said in a statement that he “has long appreciated the enormous impact coach, not only at our game, but on so many of us in it. I know that Villanova has held a special place in his heart and we are forever grateful for his contributions to this program.”
Raveling was involved in a serious car accident while coaching USC in 1994, with nine ribs, his collarbone and pelvis breaking.
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