The basketball community lost Dr. Jack Ramsay, a 1992 Hall of Fame inductee and one of the winningest coaches in NBA history, today at 89 years old.
“Dr. Jack Ramsay was one of those strong leaders whose accomplishments transcended the game of basketball during his career,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. “We are very saddened by the news of his passing and send our condolences to his family and friends.”
Ramsay led St. Joseph’s College to 10 postseason appearances, including the NCAA Final Four in 1965. He moved on to coach four NBA teams and led the Portland Trail Blazers to the playoffs in nine out of 10 seasons and an NBA Championship in 1977. Ramsay was also the general manager of the 1967 Philadelphia 76ers and wrote two successful coaching books, Pressure Basketball and The Coach’s Art. Ramsay retired as the NBA’s second winningest coach.