Remembering former MU basketball coach Rick Majerus

MILWAUKEE -- Former Marquette University basketball coach Rick Majerus will be remembered by friends and loved ones for his wit and his coaching prowess.

Majerus died Saturday, December 1st at the age of 64. Majerus died at a Los Angeles hospital of heart failure.

Majerus was an assistant coach under Al McGuire in 1977 when the Golden Eagles won the National Championship. He took over as head coach in 1983.

The Milwaukee native was also a head coach at Ball State, Utah and St. Louis; and an assistant with the Milwaukee Bucks.

His greatest professional success was leading the Utah "Utes" to a second place finish in the 1998 NCAA tournament.

Majerus coached Saint Louis University to an NCAA tournament win this past season.

Current Marquette basketball coach Buzz Williams said in a statement Saturday night:  “As an institution, a program, and as a coach, we are saddened by Coach Majerus’ passing. The game has lost one of the great innovators whose mark will never be forgotten. He will be missed by the entire college basketball community. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Majerus family.”

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