LOS ANGELES, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- Rick Majerus, who built successful men's basketball programs at several colleges, has died in Los Angeles at age 64, his girlfriend confirmed Saturday.
Angie Kvidera told USA Today Majerus -- who took Utah to the 1998 NCAA national championship game and most recently led the Saint Louis University program -- had died but no details were provided. The Los Angeles Times reported Majerus' friend, John Huntsman, said he succumbed to heart failure at a Los Angeles hospital.
The Times said word of his death first came from Porter Moser, a former assistant coach, on Twitter: "RIP to my friend and mentor coach Majerus. I learned so much about the game and life. We lost one of the best! My heart is heavy tonight."
Officials at Saint Louis University revealed in August that Majerus would miss the entire 2012-13 season under leave of absence while dealing with heart issues, and last month announced he had left the job as word had spread within college coaching circles that his condition had worsened, the newspaper reported.
The colorful and eccentric Majerus logged 25 years as a head coach with stops at his alma mater Marquette, Ball State, Utah and Saint Louis, compiling a 517-215 overall record. Only one season was a losing one, the Times said.
He coached teams into the NCAA tournament 12 times, including last year's edition of the Billikens, who won 95 games in four seasons under Majerus.
