LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Although he was born and raised in Southern California, Denny Crum became a Louisville legend. He died at his home on Tuesday at age 86.
The man known as “Cool Hand Luke” for his calmness in crunch time took over the Cardinal basketball program in 1971 and stalked the sidelines for the next 30 years, going to six Final Fours and winning Two National Championships, the first in 1980.
His Cards, led by Darrell Griffith, knocked off Crum’s alma mater, UCLA 59-54 for the school’s first-ever national title.
Crum said, “It was just an unbelievable feeling of relief. I can’t say I was overjoyed because I think the pressure was so great. But the feeling of relief—’Hey can you believe it?' We are finally gonna win one of these things.’”
Crum’s players said no one knew the game of basketball better than coach.
Griffith said, “He knew exactly what he wanted to do. He knew exactly how he wanted to mold his players. He knew exactly what kind of players he wanted to fit into his format. He was just a joy to play for.”
Rodney McCray, who along with his brother, Scooter were also on the 1980 National Championship team, said, “Coach Crum understood the game and situations. He took advantage of every mismatch that he could.”
Six years later, in 1986, Crum and the Cardinals did it again. They brought another title home to Louisville.
Crum won 675 games and defined the program with his class and dignity. In 1994, he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. It was an honor he cherished.
At his induction ceremony he said, “In my younger, cockier days, I suppose I would’ve said I expected to be in the Hall of Fame someday. "Now that you’ve placed me here, among those who’ve played and coached the game with great success, I am honored and humbled beyond anything I could’ve imagined.”
After his coaching career, Crum hosted a radio show with his former rival, University of Kentucky basketball coach, Joe B. Hall, for over 10 years. He eased into retirement, but that Coach Crum kept doing what he loved. He and his wife, Susan Sweeney Crum, would often go on trips that involved hunting and fishing. Crum also continued to give back to the community.
Crum may not have been from Louisville, but there are few who are more associated with the city. From the Court at the KFC Yum! Center to a new residence hall on the campus of UofL, to the thousands of lives he touched, Crum’s legacy will live on.
Radio announcer and the “Voice of the Cardinals,” Paul Rogers said, “He loved Louisville. He came here from Southern California to train himself to be the UCLA head coach. Found out he loved living in Louisville and never left.”
Crum loved Louisville and, as he found out, the basketball fans loved him and the team. Crum said, “This is a really crazy basketball community. They love their basketball. It was one of the reasons that I came here and one of the reasons I chose to stay. I love the University, I love the city, the community, the state. I mean, I love everything about being here. I’ve been very fortunate.”