Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Hall of Fame basketball coach George Raveling, who influenced Michael Jordan to sign with Nike in 1984, has died, his family announced Tuesday. He was 88.
"There are no words to fully capture what George meant to his family, friends, colleagues, former players and assistants -- and to the world," the family wrote.
"He will be profoundly missed, yet his aura, energy, divine presence and timeless wisdom live on in all those he touched and transformed."
Raveling's family wrote that he "faced cancer with courage and grace" and that he died while surrounded by family members.
"Born in a segregated hospital and rising to the halls of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, George never lost his love for life, his resilience, his childlike curiosity, nor his unshakable belief in treating every person with dignity and respect," the family wrote.
"Beyond accolades, he remained a lifelong learner and a kind, beautiful soul -- always finding ways to pour into others and inspire the next generation."
Raveling, a Washington, D.C., native, played at Villanova from 1957 to 1960. He served as an assistant coach for the Wildcats from 1963 through 1969. Raveling was an assistant at Maryland from 1969 to 1972.
He served as head coach at Washington State from 1972 to 1983. Raveling held the same role at Iowa from 1983 to 1986. He coached the USC Trojans from 1986 to 1994.
He had an overall record of 335-293, with a 2-6 mark in NCAA tournament games. Raveling was a three-time Pac-10 Coach of the Year.
He also served as an assistant coach for Team USA at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics, where it won gold and bronze medals, respectively. During that time, Raveling helped convince Michael Jordan to sign his deal with Nike, which forever altered the sportswear industry.
Raveling would later be portrayed by actor Marlon Wayans in the 2023 movie Air, which detailed Nike's relationship with the basketball icon.
Raveling was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013 and joined the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015.
He served as the director for international basketball for Nike after his retirement from USC. Raveling also worked as a color commentator for CBS Sports and Fox Sprots Net.
"Grief is the cost of love deeply felt," the Raveling family wrote. "We are eternally grateful for everyone who loved George. He cherished his family, his friends, his books and every opportunity to be a positive difference-maker in as many lives as possible."
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