Richard Raymond Majerus (February 17, 1948 – December 1, 2012) was an American basketball coach and TV analyst.
[1] As a teenager, Rick accompanied his father to the civil rights marches in Selma, Alabama, an experience that had a profound impact on him.
[1] As head coach at Marquette, Majerus led the Warriors to a 56–35 (.615) record and three consecutive NIT appearances in his three seasons.
The 1988–89 team holds the record for best men's basketball won-lost mark (29–3) in Ball State University history.
"[2] Majerus led Utah to the Final Four in 1998 NCAA tournament, eventually losing to Kentucky in the National Championship Game after the Utes blew a ten point halftime lead.
After the 1998 championship game loss to Kentucky, Majerus responded, "When I die, they might as well bury me at the finish line at Churchill Downs so they can run over me again.
"[2][4] While at Utah, he was known for living out of a hotel room, noting that he liked that "There's clean towels, my bed is turned down every night and there's a mint on my pillow, no matter what psychological or emotional crisis the maid is going through.
"[4][5] He was an assistant coach under Don Nelson for the US national team in the 1994 FIBA World Championship, winning the gold medal.
Intending to return after the first week of 2001, Majerus was hospitalized on New Year's Day 2001 due to chest pains.
Later in January 2001, Majerus announced that he would sit out the rest of the season to recover from his own health problems and to be with his ailing mother.
[11] Majerus gave an energetic and humorous press conference on the day of his hire, but also noted "I hope I die here.
"[14] Years later, however, Majerus would claim that the true reason for his change of mind had not been his health, but rather had been his mother's request that he not take the job, which would have meant his relocation to Los Angeles, far removed from her home in Wisconsin.
[16] On April 27, 2007, Majerus accepted the head coaching position at Saint Louis University; his contract was for six years.
On September 18, 2023, SLU named its basketball practice court after the late coach, with his sisters and former players attending the dedication ceremony.
[23][24] Saint Louis University athletic director Chris May said of Majerus "His enduring passion to see his players excel both on and off the court.
"[1] Utah athletic director Dr. Chris Hill said of Majerus upon his passing, "Rick left a lasting legacy at the University of Utah, not only for his incredible success and the national prominence he brought to our basketball program, but also for the tremendous impact he made on the young men who were fortunate enough to play on his teams.
[1][2] "The thing about Rick was he never wanted to sleep," said longtime coach Bill Foster, Majerus's close friend.
The donation founded the Rick Majerus Endowed Scholarship, which will help first-generation students in the Helen Way Klingler College of Arts and Sciences.
The Majerus Family Foundation also donated $2 million to the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City toward construction of a children's research center.
In 2000, he released an autobiography, My Life on a Napkin: Pillow Mints, Playground Dreams and Coaching the Runnin' Utes (ISBN 0-7868-8445-2), co-written by Gene Wojciechowski.