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Press Maravich

Press Maravich (1915-1987)

Teams coached: West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats, Davis & Elkins Senators, Clemson Tigers, NC State Wolfpack, LSU Tigers, Appalachian State Mountaineers
West Virginia Wesleyan record: 14-10 (.583)
Davis & Elkins record: 37-21 (.638)
Clemson record: 55-96 (.364)
NC State record: 38-13 (.745)
LSU record: 76-86 (.469)
Appalachian State record: 12-51 (.190)
Overall record: 232-277 (.456)

Career Accomplishments:

  • NCAA National Championships:  0
  • NCAA Tournament Appearances:  1  (1965)
  • NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen:  1  (1965)
  • NCAA Tournament Final Four:  0
  • NIT Championships:  0
  • NIT Appearances:  1  (1970)
  • ACC Tournament Champion:  1  (1965)

Awards:

Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):

1972-1975 Appalachian State
1966-1972 LSU
1964-1966 NC State
1962-1964 NC State (asst)
1956-1962 Clemson
1950-1952 Davis & Elkins
1949-1950 West Virginia Wesleyan
1947-1949 Davis & Elkins (asst)

Press Maravich Facts

  • Petar Maravich
  • Born August 29, 1915
  • Died April 15, 1987
  • Hometown: Aliquippa, Pennsylvania
  • Alma Mater: Davis & Elkins College (BA, 1941)
  • Father of Hall of Fame player Pete Maravich, whom he coached for three seasons at LSU
  • Earned the nickname “Press” when he was selling the Pittsburgh Press on the streets as a boy
  • Played at and graduated from Davis & Elkins College in West Virginia
    • Served in the US Naval Air Corps during World War II
    • Went on to play professionally with the Youngstown Bears (NBL) and Pittsburgh Ironmen (BAA)
  • Started coaching at his alma mater in 1947 and in 1949 became head coach at West Virginia Wesleyan
  • After one year at WVW, he coached Davis & Elkins for two seasons then went down to the HS level
    • Coached at alma mater Aliquippa HS (PA) and Baldwin HS (PA) for two years each
  • First top level collegiate job came in 1956, when he was hired as the head coach at Clemson
    • Went 55-96 in six seasons at Clemson, but never finished above .500
  • Went on to serve as an assistant under Everett Case at NC State for two seasons
    • Took over for Case in 1964, leading the Wolfpack for two years (38-13 overall)
    • Won the 1965 ACC Tournament to earn a trip to the NCAA Tournament; named ACC COY
  • Left NC State for LSU in 1966, coaching the Tigers for the next six seasons
    • Was 76-86 overall, going 49-35 in the three seasons during which his son “Pistol Pete” played
    • Did not make the NCAA Tournament, but did finish in 4th place in the 1970 NIT
    • Let go by LSU in 1972 after going 24-28 in the two years after Pete graduated
  • Final coaching position was at Appalachian State, where he went just 12-51 over three seasons
    • Retired from coaching in 1975 with an overall collegiate record of 232-277
  • Spent time later on as associate head coach at Campbell and held basketball camps in the US, Europe and Israel
  • Diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1985, which he attempted to treat via holistic methods
    • Passed away from the disease in 1987, just eight months before his son, Pete, suddenly passed away, as well

Press Maravich Coaching Tree

  • Eddie Biedenbach (UNC Asheville)
  • Alvin Gentry (New Orleans Pelicans, Phoenix Suns, LA Clippers, Detroit Pistons, Miami Heat)
  • Mike Newell (Dillard, West Alabama, Arkansas-Monticello, Lamar, Little Rock)
  • Bobby Roberts (Clemson)
  • Les Robinson (NC State, East Tennessee State, The Citadel)