Former head coach Larry Hunter has passed away

Former Ohio and Western Carolina head coach Larry Hunter has passed away, just days after suffering a massive stroke. Hunter – who had 702 career wins as a collegiate head coach – was 68 years old.

Hunter was an Athens, Ohio native and held two degrees from Ohio U, where he would later spend twelve seasons as head basketball coach. His final job was a thirteen-year tenure at Western Carolina, a position he stepped down from in March of this year.

Coach Hunter impacted many players and coaches throughout his 47-year coaching career. Stony Brook head coach Jeff Boals, who played for Hunter at Ohio, said on Twitter: “You’ve impact a lot of young men during your coaching career…The coaching profession lost a great one.” Indiana head coach Archie Miller played at NC State while Hunter was on staff there. “He was a good man,” Miller said on Friday. “I really respected him as a guy. But I loved his way of approaching the game.”

Hunter is survived by his wife, Mary.