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Thursday, March 8, 2001
The Denny Crum Legacy



Louisville head coach Denny Crum is one of the most successful college basketball coaches of the modern era. His head coaching career started in 1971 in Louisville. After 30 years at the helm of the Cardinals' program, Crum's 2000-2001 campaign was his last in Louisville. Here's a look at the Hall-of-Fame career of Denny Crum:

Denny Crum
Denny Crum spent 30 seasons at Louisville.
Personal
Born: San Fernando, Calif.
Age: 64
Birthdate: March 2, 1937
Alma Mater: UCLA (1958 graduate)
Children: 3 – Cynthia (40; born Aug. 12, 1959), Steve (38; born Oct. 16, 1961), and Scott (18, born June 24, 1981)

Coaching Record
Seasons: 30
Overall: 675-295 (.696)
NCAA Tournament: 43-23 (.652)
NCAA appearances: 23
NCAA Final Fours: 6 (1972, 1975, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1986)
NCAA titles: 2 (1980, 1986)

Career Highlights
  • Crum was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on May 9, 1994.

  • The best years of Crum's career were the 1980s. Six times he guided the Cardinals into the NCAA Final Four, including four times during the '80s. Only UCLA's John Wooden, North Carolina's Dean Smith and Duke's Mike Kryzewski have coached more Final Four teams than Crum.

  • Crum reached the top of the coaching world in 1980 and 1986. On March 24, 1980 the Cardinals beat UCLA 59-54 to win Louisville's first NCAA Championship. On March 31, 1986 Louisville defeated Duke 72-69 in a classic battle, giving Crum his second and final NCAA title. "I had more fun with the second title in 1986," Crum explained, "because the pressure had been lifted."

  • Crum guided Louisville to 12 regular-season Metro Conference titles and 11 Metro Tournament championships. The Cardinals either won or finished second in 17 of the league's 19 years of awarding champions.

    Denny Crum's Year-by-Year Record
    Year Overall Pct. Conference Pct.
    1971-72 26-5 .838 12-2 .857
    1972-73 23-7 .766 11-3 .786
    1973-74 21-7 .750 11-1 .917
    1974-75 28-3 .903 12-2 .857
    1975-76 20-8 .714
    1976-77 21-7 .750 6-1 .857
    1977-78 23-7 .766 9-3 .750
    1978-79 24-8 .750 9-1 .900
    1979-1980 33-3 .917 12-0 1.000
    1980-81 21-9 .700 11-1 .917
    1981-82 23-10 .697 8-4 .667
    1982-83 32-4 .889 12-0 1.000
    1983-84 24-11 .686 11-3 .786
    1984-85 19-18 .514 6-8 .429
    1985-86 32-7 .825 10-2 .833
    1986-87 18-14 .563 9-3 .750
    1987-88 24-11 .686 11-3 .786
    1988-89 24-9 .727 8-4 .667
    1989-90 27-8 .771 12-2 .857
    1990-91 14-16 .467 4-10 .286
    1991-92 19-11 .633 7-5 .583
    1992-93 22-9 .710 11-1 .917
    1993-94 28-6 .824 10-2 .833
    1994-95 19-14 .576 7-5 .583
    1995-96 22-12 .647 10-4 .714
    1996-97 26-9 .743 9-5 .643
    1997-98 12-20 .375 5-11 .313
    1998-99 19-11 .633 11-5 .688
    1999-2000 19-12 .613 10-6 .625
    2000-2001 11-18 .379 7-8 .467
    Totals 674-294 .696 270-105 .720

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  • ALSO SEE
    Crum done as Louisville coach after this season

    Bilas: Even legends like Crum can't stay forever

    Vitale: No yearlong farewell for Crum