Shaq: 'The only one I ever wanted': Brown died at 90
The coach who recruited a 13-year-old Shaquille O'Neal in West Germany passed away on Friday, just two days after being named the 2027 John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching Award recipient.
By Justin Barnes ·
Dale Brown, the longtime LSU basketball coach who helped launch the career of Shaquille O'Neal, died Friday, Oct. 23, at the age of 90.
Brown and O'Neal first met in 1984 at a military base in West Germany. O'Neal was 13 years old and already standing 6 feet, 9 inches tall. Brown initially mistook the teenager for a soldier and asked how long he had served in the Army. After learning O'Neal's age, Brown began sending the young prospect letters and basketball exercises.
O'Neal played for LSU from 1989 to 1992. During that time, he earned two consensus All-American honors and was named the SEC Player of the Year twice. He entered the NBA as the No. 1 overall pick in the 1992 draft. In a 2015 interview with Esquire, O'Neal described Brown as a father figure, leader, and motivator off the court.
The two maintained a close relationship for decades. According to LSU Athletics, they stayed in regular contact through letters and emails. O'Neal wrote to Brown in 1999 to congratulate him on his induction into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. In that letter, O'Neal stated, "You are the only college coach I ever had, and the only one I ever wanted."
Brown remained present in O'Neal's professional life. He attended O'Neal's first NBA championship celebration with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000. That same year, O'Neal returned to Baton Rouge to complete his college degree, fulfilling a promise made to Brown and his family when O'Neal left in 1992.
A 2015 ESPN documentary titled "Shaq & Dale" chronicled their history. Directed by Hannah Storm and narrated by Tim McGraw, the film followed O'Neal back to LSU to visit his former coach. It traced their bond from the military base in Germany through O'Neal's NBA career and life after basketball.
Brown's death came shortly after a major professional recognition. On Oct. 21, LSU announced that Brown had been selected as the 2027 recipient of the John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching Award. O'Neal recorded a video message to congratulate his former coach on the honor. Brown was scheduled to receive the award in April 2027.
Source: FOX 8 WVUE (fox8live)
