Denny Crum

Denny Crum

Crum coaching an exhibition against the Dominican Republic National Team in 2011
Sport(s)	Basketball
Biographical details
Born	(1937-03-02) March 2, 1937 (age 80) San Fernando, California
Playing career
1954–1956	Pierce Agriculture
1956–1958	UCLA
Position(s)	Guard
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1958–1959	UCLA (frosh.)
1959–1963	Los Angeles Pierce JC
1963–1971	UCLA (asst.)
1971–2001	Louisville
Head coaching record
Overall	675–295
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
2× NCAA Division I (1980, 1986) 6× NCAA D-I Final Four (1972, 1975, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1986) 3× MVC regular season (1972, 1974, 1975) 12× Metro regular season (1977, 1979–1981, 1983, 1984, 1986–1988, 1990, 1993, 1994) 11× Metro Tournament (1978, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1986, 1988–1990, 1993–1995)
Awards
Gold medal, USA World University Games (1977) Basketball Weekly Coach of the Year (1980) 2× Sporting News Coach of the Year (1983, 1986) MVC Coach of the Year (1973) 4× Metro Coach of the Year (1979, 1980, 1983, 1994) C-USA Coach of the Year (1996)
Basketball Hall of Fame Inducted in 1994
College Basketball Hall of Fame Inducted in 2006

Denzel Edwin "Denny" Crum (born March 2, 1937) is a former American men's college basketball coach at the University of Louisville in Kentucky from 1971 to 2001, compiling a 675–295 record. He guided the Cardinals to two NCAA championships (1980, 1986) and six Final Fours. Honored in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame since 1994, Crum is one of the major figures in the history of sports in Kentucky and in college basketball in general.

As the head coach at U of L, Crum is widely credited with pioneering the now-common strategy of scheduling tough non-conference match-ups early in the season in order to prepare his teams for March's NCAA tournament, where one defeat ends the season. Crum's prolific post-season play and calm demeanor earned him the monikers "Mr. March" and his most well-known nickname, "Cool Hand Luke."

Denzel Edwin Crum was born in San Fernando, California. From 1954 to 1956, Denny Crum played basketball at Los Angeles Pierce College. In 1956, he transferred to UCLA to play for John Wooden. While at UCLA, Crum was honored with the Irv Pohlmeyer Memorial Trophy for outstanding first-year varsity player. He also received the Bruin Bench Award for most improved player the following year.

After graduating in 1958, Crum served as the freshman basketball coach at UCLA. The following year, he returned to Pierce College to serve as head coach. After four years at Pierce College, Crum was rehired by Wooden as a top assistant coach and chief recruiter. As a coach at UCLA, he played a role in three NCAA titles. He remained at UCLA until his departure for Louisville in 1971.

In 1971, Crum was hired as head coach by the University of Louisville, taking over from John Dromo. It was under Crum that the University of Louisville became a national college basketball power. By 1972, Crum had taken his first team to the NCAA Final Four, where his team lost to John Wooden's UCLA team. Crum would go on to lead the Louisville Cardinals to five more final fours (1975, 1980, 1982, 1983, and 1986). He is tied for sixth all-time in number of final four appearances with Adolph Rupp and Tom Izzo. They rank behind John Wooden, Dean Smith, Mike Krzyzewski, Roy Williams, and Rick Pitino.