Dale Brown, legendary LSU coach who helped launch Shaquille O’Neal’s career, dies at 90

Dale Brown, the winningest coach in LSU men’s basketball history and the college coach of Shaquille O’Neal and Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, died Friday, the school announced. He was 90.

Brown spent 25 seasons at LSU, building the Tigers into a national contender and leading them to Final Four appearances in 1981 and 1986. His teams won 448 games, four Southeastern Conference regular-season championships and made 13 NCAA Tournament appearances during his tenure from 1972 to 1997.

His family remembered the person behind those accomplishments.

“We have lost the most loving and most loved man any of us has ever known,” the family said in a statement released by LSU, via ESPN. “Dale Brown always put others first. He always led with the heart. He was always a great humanitarian before anything else.”

Brown coached some of the biggest names to come through Baton Rouge, including O’Neal, Abdul-Rauf, then known as Chris Jackson, and Rudy Macklin. He earned national coach of the year honors in 1981 and was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.

Just two days before his death, LSU announced that Brown had been selected to receive the 2027 John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching Award.

“Dale long ago fell in love with Louisiana. And the people of Louisiana loved him right back,” his family said. “We are forever grateful for that.”

In a 2025 interview with WAFB’s Chris Nakamoto, Brown discussed how he hoped to be remembered. His answer centered on the lessons his mother taught him, rather than his coaching record.

“I was taught by my mother to do things that are right. And to stand up for what’s right,” Brown said, according to WAFB. “I don’t care if anyone disagrees with me. I’m not trying to get into an argument.”

He also recalled her advice about character.

“If you spend too much time polishing your image, you will tarnish your character and be an unhappy man,” Brown said. “So you say what’s in your heart.”