Overview
- His son, Brian, confirmed Mackey died Tuesday from an apparent heart attack, with funeral arrangements still being planned.
- Outlets reported his age differently, with ESPN citing 79 and the Associated Press and Boston Globe reporting 80.
- Mackey’s 14-seed Vikings beat No. 3 Indiana and then Saint Joseph’s in 1986 before a one-point Sweet 16 loss to Navy.
- His Cleveland State tenure ended in 1990 after an arrest leaving a suspected crack house and an admission of crack cocaine use, leading to his firing.
- Following rehab under John Lucas, he coached in lower leagues and spent years scouting for the Indiana Pacers under Larry Bird, with family noting roughly 35 years of sobriety and survivors including three children and seven grandchildren.