CLEVELAND, OH — November 12, 2025 — The basketball world is mourning the loss of one of its most colorful and innovative figures. Coach Kevin Mackey, the legendary architect behind Cleveland State University’s iconic 1986 NCAA Tournament run, has passed away at the age of 79.
Mackey, celebrated for his passion, creativity, and deep understanding of the game, leaves behind a legacy that transformed not only Cleveland basketball but also the very definition of the “Cinderella story” in college hoops. His energetic leadership and full-court “run and stun” defense shocked the nation when his underdog Vikings stunned Bobby Knight’s Indiana Hoosiers, propelling Cleveland State into the Sweet 16 — and into basketball lore.
LaMont “Showboat” Robinson, founder of the American Basketball Hall of Fame, reflected fondly on his personal connection with Mackey, who was inducted into the Hall in 2024:
“When Coach Mackey first came to Cleveland, it was a pleasure meeting him and talking with him,” Robinson said. “When our organization honored and inducted him into the American Basketball Hall of Fame, it was one of my proudest moments. I remember sitting down with my close friends Len Krichko, former NBA great Phil Chenier, and Coach Mackey — we just had a great conversation about basketball. I hate that he’s passed because he was not only a great person but a brilliant basketball mind. He’ll never be forgotten.”
Mackey’s remarkable journey began at Don Bosco Technical School, where he coached his team to a high school state championship in 1976. From there, he joined forces with coaching legends Dr. Tom Davis and Gary Williams at Boston College, helping build the Eagles into a Big East powerhouse between 1977 and 1983.
In 1983, Mackey took over at Cleveland State University — a small program with big dreams — and immediately made an impact. His bold recruitment of global talents like 7-foot-7 Manute Bol put CSU on the national radar. By 1986, his team had captured the imagination of the country, defeating basketball royalty and inspiring generations of mid-major programs to believe that anything was possible.
After leaving Cleveland State in 1988, Mackey brought his sharp basketball intellect to the Indiana Pacers, where he worked as a scout for 18 years. NBA legend Larry Bird once called him “one of the greatest basketball minds I’ve ever known.” Mackey’s keen eye for talent was instrumental in the Pacers’ selection of Paul George in the 2010 NBA Draft — a move that helped reshape the franchise’s future.
In 2024, the American Basketball Hall of Fame enshrined Kevin Mackey among the game’s immortals, honoring his relentless drive, innovative strategies, and unyielding love for basketball.
Today, former players, colleagues, and fans remember Coach Mackey as a visionary — a teacher who turned underdogs into believers and made the impossible seem routine.
A Tribute to Coach Kevin Mackey
His fire, his genius, and his faith in the game will live forever in the hearts of those he inspired.
