Dawn Staley Reacts to Passing of Legendary Basketball Coach at 88

Raveling’s impact stretched far beyond the sidelines. He began his career as a player at Villanova before moving into coaching, where he led Washington State, Iowa, and USC to NCAA Tournament appearances.

In 2013, Raveling was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, and just two years later, in 2015, he earned a place in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

After retiring from coaching, Raveling transitioned to Nike, where he became a highly influential executive. He played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s basketball legacy—most notably by helping secure Michael Jordan’s groundbreaking partnership with the brand in 1984, when, as an assistant coach on the U.S. Olympic team, he advocated for Nike and introduced Jordan to executive Sonny Vaccaro.

Following the news of his passing, South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley—another icon of the sport—shared her heartfelt reaction.

"We lost a great soul today in @GeorgeRaveling!" Staley said. "Thank you for being a light for all of us! May your soul rest with God…..job well done, Coach!

Six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan also released a statement on the passing of his mentor following Tuesday morning’s news.

"I'm deeply saddened to hear about George's passing. For more than 40 years, he blessed my life with wisdom, encouragement, and friendship," Jordan wrote in a statement. "He was a mentor in every sense, and I'll always carry deep gratitude for his guidance. I signed with Nike because of George, and without him, there would be no Air Jordan. He lived an extraordinary life, breaking barriers and paving the way for so many who came after him. My thoughts are with Delores, Mark, and George's many, many friends."