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Friday, December 12, 2025

Basketball Coach George Raveling Tribute Post

Call it "the privilege" of lunch with a legend. Most of mine were with great mentors, not famous.

When we "make friends with the dead," we reclaim the chance to lunch with great men or women. Coach George Raveling falls on that list as I never had the privilege to meet him. Coach Raveling died 1 September 2015 at age 88. 

Coach Raveling was with Reverend Martin Luther King on 28 August 1963 when King delivered his famous, "I have a dream" address.

Coach Raveling also wrote an exceptional book about basketball rebounding, "War on the Boards." Those two facts are awkward juxtapositions, from the sacred to the profane.

Coach Raveling also loved books and reading. His website shared that passion, a "me encanta" not a "me gusta" passing fancy. 

A brief digression for commentary from AI about his new book, "What You're Made For." 

Know your purpose

  • The book circles back to understanding what you’re truly here to do—and aligning your daily choices with that purpose, not just chasing titles, money, or fame.

  • Turn adversity into advantage

  • Raveling’s life—growing up in poverty, facing racism, surviving a near-fatal car accident—is a case study in using hardship as fuel.

  • Relationships are your greatest asset
    He emphasizes mentors, friendships, and building people up. Success comes from being a connector and giver, not just a lone striver.

  • Be a lifelong learner
    Curiosity, note-taking, reading, and studying great minds (not just in basketball) are framed as daily disciplines, not occasional events.

  • Success is service
    The book is ultimately a call to matter—to use your opportunities, platform, and “what you’re made of” to make others better, not just to collect wins or trophies.

    • How will history remember Coach Raveling? He overcame effectively being orphaned as an adolescent and had a string of achievements:
    • Played basketball at Villanova and set school rebounding records
    • Led the Wildcats to consecutive NIT appearances
    • Assistant Coach under Lefty Driesell at Maryland, the first African-American ACC coach
    • Had the original copy of Dr. King's speech and was offered $3 millon dollars for it - and turned the offer down...donated it to Villanova in 2021. 
    • Coached at multiple universities
    • Gold Medal as assistant basketball coach in 1984 Olympics
    • Kodak Coach of the Year (1992)
    • CBC Coach of the Year (1994)
    • College Basketball Hall of Fame (2013)
    • Naismith Hall of Fame (2015)
    If we could ask Coach Raveling for one enduring piece of advice, he would likely say, "Become the best version of yourself so you can help others become the best version of themselves.”

    Lagniappe. Are you willing to sprint when the distance is unknown? 





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