Overview
- Mackey died Tuesday of an apparent heart attack, his son said, with reports citing his age as either 79 or 80.
- He led No. 14 Cleveland State past Bob Knight’s Indiana in 1986 and became the first 14 seed to reach the Sweet 16 with a pressing “run and stun” style.
- He compiled a 142-69 record at Cleveland State, and the program later went on NCAA probation tied to the Manute Bol recruitment and findings that he obstructed the inquiry.
- A 1990 arrest after leaving a Cleveland crack house ended his college career, after which he completed treatment in John Lucas’s program and coached in lower-tier pro leagues.
- Larry Bird hired him as an Indiana Pacers scout in 2003 and he served until 2021; he maintained 35 years of sobriety and is survived by three children and seven grandchildren.