SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Nike’s Director of International Basketball and former men’s college basketball coach George Raveling has been selected to receive the 2013 John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
The Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award was instituted by the Board of Trustees of the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1973 and is the most prestigious award presented by the Hall of Fame outside of Enshrinement. Named in honor of Hall of Famer John W. Bunn (Class of 1964), the first chairman of the Basketball Hall of Fame Committee who served from 1949-1964, the award honors coaches, players and contributors whose outstanding accomplishments have impacted the high school, college, professional or International game.
“George Raveling is one of the true pioneers of college basketball, his impact as a coach and mentor makes him a perfect recipient of this year’s John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. “Through his undoubted love for the game of basketball, Coach has positively influenced the lives of so many of his players and coaches. He is certainly deserving of this great honor.”
“George was a trailblazer in the college coaching profession, he took so much pride in educating his players not only about basketball, but also about life,” said Jerry Colangelo, Chairman of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Board. “It is truly an honor to recognize George, and to highlight all that he has done for the game of basketball. He has been a great friend throughout the years and I am so grateful for his leadership, friendship and guidance. He is the true embodiment of what the John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes.”
Raveling’s coaching career began as an assistant at his alma mater of Villanova University in 1964, where he became known for his great ability to recruit. After spending time at Villanova, Raveling went on to coach at the University of Maryland and became the first African American basketball coach in the Atlantic Coach Conference. He landed several highly talented recruits, and helped lead the 1970-71 Terrapins to an undefeated season and No. 1 national ranking.
The following year, Coach Raveling became the head coach at Washington State University where he took the once depleted Cougars to two NCAA tournaments and finished with an overall coaching record at WSU of 167-136. Also, becoming the first African American basketball coach in the Pac-8, which we know now as the Pac-12.
In 1983, Raveling took the head-coaching job at the University of Iowa where he quickly made his mark on campus and in the Big 10 conference. He took the Hawkeyes to back-to-back 20-win season during his time at Iowa and in 1984; he was awarded the opportunity to coach with Bob Knight as an assistant for the 1984 Olympic team. His overall record at Iowa was 54-38.
His final stop was in Los Angeles, CA at the University of Southern California. Raveling continued his efforts of improving the quality of student-athletes, and helped the Trojans become a college basketball powerhouse. USC advanced to the NCAA tournament in 1991 and 1992 and also competed in the NIT in 1993 and 1994. Once again, Raveling was selected in 1988 as an assistant with the Olympic team.
In 1994, unfortunate health circumstances caused Raveling to walk away from the coaching profession, but he stayed close to basketball as a color commentator for Fox Sports and CBS. He later took on the job of Director of Grassroots Basketball for Nike, where he played an integral part in Nike Basketball’s growth by developing a series of events that helped showcase the talent of young athletes. Raveling was later promoted to Director of Global Basketball in 2000. He now holds the title of Director of International Basketball for Nike.
Raveling is not only known for making history by breaking down racial barriers as a coach, but also was a part of history when on August 28, 1963 he received the original copy of the Martin Luther King Jr., “I Have a Dream” speech.
Raveling will be presented the John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award during the 2013 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame ceremonies, to be held at the “Hall of Fame Family Reunion Dinner” on Sept. 7. The annual Enshrinement Ceremony will be held on Sept. 8. For ticket information, please visit
www.hoophall.com.
