Johnny Orr, Michigan's all-time winningest basketball coach, dies at age 86

[alp227]

Source: Ann Arbor News

ANN ARBOR -- Johnny Orr, the all-time winningest basketball coach in the history of both Michigan and Iowa State, died Tuesday.

He was 86.

Michigan's longest-tenured basketball coach, Orr led the Wolverines from 1968 to 1980. His U-M teams reached four NCAA tournaments, including an appearance in the NCAA title game in 1976, and won the 1977 Big Ten title. He coached the first men's basketball game ever played in Crisler Arena.

Orr, with a record of 209-113, was inducted into Michigan's Hall of Honor on Jan. 22, 2011.

Read more: http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2013/12/johnny_orr_michigans_all-time.html

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Other remembrances: AP, Des Moines Register, Ames Tribune, WHO-TV Des Moines, Springfield Republican (Orr also was HC at UMass),

[jsr]

1. R.I.P. to one of the greatest

[elfin]

2. Aww. MGoBlue here. Eom

[rurallib]

3. and from Iowa where he was one of our most beloved public figures

Brought Iowa State back into the basketball world for about 10 or 15 years.
Used to love his call in shows. Not sure if he was a better wit or basketball coach. One very funny, very good man.

ETA - believe he was a pioneer player in what eventually became the NBA.