In the Coaching Ranks, A Man Among Men; His Mouth Held More Than a Billiken

Or

Ute Movement

Rick Majerus, the former college basketball coach with a little round belly, that shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly, has died of heart failure at the age of 64. In coaching stints at Marquette, Ball State, Utah and Saint Louis totaling 25 years, he only had 1 losing season, and took all 4 schools to postseason tournaments, highlighted by reaching the NCAA finals with Utah in 1998. His career record of 517-216, included 15 20-win seasons and two 30-win seasons. As renowned for his appetite as for his hoops acumen, Majerus was a walking Zagat’s guide in a Bill Cosby sweater, capable of giving restaurant recommendations for any college town in the United States. Health concerns nearly ended his career in 2004, as he had accepted the head coaching job at USC, only to turn it down 5 days later due to health concerns. He returned to the bench with St. Louis after a 3-year absence in 2007 and ended a 12-year tournament drought for the Billikens last year, but had announced he would not be coaching this season due to heart trouble.