Press Maravich
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Peter "Press" Maravich (August 29, 1915 - April 15, 1987), a first-generation American of Serbian descent, was a popular college and professional basketball coach. Received the nickname "Press" for always having gossip styled updates in his hometown of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, a Pittsburgh suburb. Maravich Sr. also proudly served his country in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II.
Despite a long and distinguished career as a player and coach, Maravich will best be remembered as "Pistol" Pete Maravich's father. Maravich graduated from Davis and Elkins College in 1941 and was a member of Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity. After college he played professional basketball with the Youngstown Bears (1945 - 1946) of the National Basketball League and the Pittsburgh Ironmen (1946 - 1947) of the Basketball Association of America.
Press Maravich's first head coaching job at the college level was West Virginia Wesleyan College, 1949-1950. From there he went to his alma mater Davis & Elkins 1950-1951, as head coach. He had previously served as an assistant under Red Brown 1947-1949.
Maravich was the head coach at Clemson University from 1957 - 1962. He then went to North Carolina State University to be an assistant coach under Everett Case. Maravich took over the head coaching duties when health problems, namely cancer, forced Case to retire early in the 1964 - 1965 season. Maravich led the Pack to the Atlantic Coast Conference Title that season. Maravich left for Louisiana State University in April of 1966 where he coached his son, Pete Maravich. Upon offering the LSU scholarship to "Pistol," "Press" told his boy that "If you don't sign this ... don't ever come into my house again." In spite of coaching his prolific son for half of his coaching career at LSU, Maravich had an overall losing record at the school. Maravich was replaced at LSU by Dale Brown in 1972. He retired from coaching in 1975.
In 20 seasons as a college head coach, Maravich won 232 games.
[edit] Further reading
- Federman, Wayne and Terrill, Marshall (2006). Maravich. SportClassic Books. ISBN 1-894963-52-0.
- Gutman, Bill (1972). Pistol Pete Maravich: The making of a basketball superstar. Grosset & Dunlap. ISBN 0-448-01973-6.
- Towle, Mike (2000). I Remember Pete Maravich. Nashville: Cumberland House. ISBN 1-58182-148-4.
| Preceded by Everett Case |
NC State Men's Basketball Head Coaches 1964–1966 |
Succeeded by Norm Sloan |
| Preceded by Frank Truitt |
LSU Men's Head Basketball Coach 1966-1972 |
Succeeded by Dale Brown |
Wingard • Mayhew • Long • Stroud • R.E. Edmonds • Stroud • Bocock • Gomley • Ducote • Wilson • Rabenhorst • Morey • Fatheree • Swanson • Rabenhorst • McCreary • Truitt • Maravich • Brown • Brady
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Categories: 1915 births | 1987 deaths | Sportspeople from Pittsburgh | American basketball coaches | American basketball players | Pittsburgh Ironmen players | Clemson Tigers basketball coaches | LSU Tigers basketball coaches | NC State Wolfpack men's basketball coaches | Serbian-Americans | United States Army soldiers | United States basketball coach stubs
