Hall of Fame basketball coach John Chaney dies at 89

Jan. 29 (UPI) -- Hall of Fame college basketball coach John Chaney, who guided Temple University to 17 NCAA tournament appearances, died at the age of 89, the school announced Friday.

The university said Chaney died late Friday morning after a short, unspecified illness.

"John Chaney was a great coach, but he was so much more. For generations of Temple University students, he was a wise counselor, a dedicated teacher, an icon of success, and a passionate leader who always led by example and with conviction," Temple president Richard M. Englert said in a statement. "I am also honored to say he was a dear friend.

"For generations of his players, there is only one man whom they all lovingly called Coach even to this day. That was John Chaney. Our most sincere condolences go out to his wonderful family members. We will keep them all in our prayers."

Chaney spent 24 seasons at Temple, starting in 1982-83 -- the only season that the Owls failed to reach the NCAA tournament or the National Invitation Tournament under him. He guided Temple to the Elite Eight on five occasions.

Before taking over at Temple, Chaney coached for 10 seasons at Cheyney University, a Division II program near Philadelphia. He went to eight Division II tournaments and won the national championship in 1978.

Chaney, who won 516 games at Temple and 741 games overall, was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001 and the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006. He ranks among the top 40 college basketball coaches in career wins, and he was the first Black coach to reach the 700-win milestone.