Long time basketball coach and radio analyst Jack Ramsay has died at 89. I had the chance to work with Jack during the season I handled radio play by play for the Indiana Pacers in 1986-87. Jack was the head coach.
I did a pregame show with him before every broadcast and learned so much about the inner workings of the NBA. I also learned the only pizza he would eat was cheese and he watched his diet diligently. He was a wonderful man and a great coach. He was lucky to be able to pass his insights over to the general public during all the seasons he was the number one analyst on NBA games on ESPN Radio. Teaming with Jim Durham they made a great duo on the air.
When Jack coached the Pacers they used to practice at Butler’s Hinkle Fieldhouse. Jack was very much into personal fitness and was in great shape. But during his practices there was often a lone older gentleman jogging and walking laps around the upper concourse of the fieldhouse. It was 86 year old Tony Hinkle–the long time coach at Butler for whom the fieldhouse was named. After a practice one time I pointed to Hinkle and told Jack that would be him in 25 years. He admired “Hink” and said,” I just hope to last as long as Tony and be in such good shape.” Hinkle and Ramsay had more in common. Both taught the same style of team first basketball. Both learned how to win on the college level with less talent than many of the teams they were beating.
Jack actually did Hinkle even better in longevity in the game because he learned how to adjust. Hinkle had been forced to quit coaching at 70 as a result of reaching a forced retirement age. But Jack stayed in the game long after he was no longer on the sidelines. Despite battling various and significant medical problems that he mostly kept secret he kept working. He was about 86 before he finally had to give up the radio work and job he enjoyed. Dr. Jack Ramsay was a basketball lifer and was very good at any job he held.
I am very fortunate to have had Tony Hinkle and Jack Ramsay be part of my life. Both Hall of Famers in Springfield and coaches I learned a lot from working with. Rest in peace, Jack. You filled your life to over-flowing and have left a memory for millions who play basketball all over the world.
