LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Many knew him as “Mr. March” or “Cool Hand Luke,” but Denny Crum will always be a Cardinal. The University of Louisville will honor the legendary men’s basketball coach with a celebration of life on Monday, May 15.
What You Need To Know
- The University of Louisville is set to honor the late, legendary men's basketball coach Denny Crum with a celebration of life on Monday, May 15
- Crum, who won two NCAA basketball championships and built the Cardinals into one of the 1980s’ dominant programs during a Hall of Fame coaching career, died Tuesday at age 86
- Details of the 7 p.m. event—how to claim tickets, how to watch the livestream, and a list of guest speakers—haven't been finalized yet
- Crum retired in March 2001 after 30 seasons at Louisville with 675 victories, which ranked 15th all-time then
The Celebration of Life will take place at 7 p.m. Monday at the KFC Yum! Center, UofL Athletics announced late Wednesday. Crum, who won two NCAA basketball championships and built the Cardinals into one of the 1980s’ dominant programs during a Hall of Fame coaching career, died Tuesday. He was 86.
Details of the event—how to claim tickets, how to watch the livestream, and a list of guest speakers—haven’t been finalized yet. Spectrum News 1 will update this story once that information is released.
The visitation and funeral for Crum are scheduled for earlier in the day on May 15, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Southeast Christian Church.
Louisville Athletics said in lieu of flowers, donations to local charities or the Denny Crum Scholarship Fund are encouraged.
Nicknamed “Cool Hand Luke” because of his cool, unflinching sideline demeanor—legend has it he never uttered a curse word—Crum retired in March 2001 after 30 seasons at Louisville with 675 victories, which ranked 15th all-time then, and championships in 1980 and ‘86.
A disciple of the legendary John Wooden, Crum often wore a red sport coat and waved a rolled-up program and stat sheet like a bandleader’s baton as he directed Louisville to 23 NCAA Tournaments and six Final Fours.
Crum was inducted into the Hall of Fame in May 1994, with Wooden, his college coach and longtime mentor at his side.
Crum had a front-row seat in March 2022 for the introduction of one of his former players, Kenny Payne, as Cardinals coach. There were plenty of the Hall of Famer’s other pupils present to not only support Payne, but to enjoy another meeting with their mentor and friend on and off the court.
Payne expressed prayers for Crum’s family and called his former coach a true treasure who gave so much to the school and community.
“Today is a sad day for me personally, as well as the basketball world,” Payne said in a statement. “My thoughts go through all the lessons that he taught, not just to me, but every player he ever came in contact with. ... Rest in peace, Coach. You touched so many. Well done.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.