Coaching great Chaney, 89, dies
John Chaney’s raspy, booming voice drowned out the gym when he scolded Temple players over a turnover — at the top of his basketball sins — or inferior effort. His voice was loudest when it came to picking unpopular fights, lashing out at NCAA policies he said discriminated against Black athletes. And it could be profane when Chaney let his own sense of justice get the better of him with fiery confrontations that threatened to undermine his role as father figure to scores of his underprivileged players.
Complicated, cranky, quick with a quip, Chaney was an imposing presence on the court and a court jester off it, all while building the Owls perched in North Philadelphia into one of the nation’s toughest teams.
“He wrapped his arms around you and made you a part of his family,” said Chaney’s successor, Fran Dunphy.
Chaney died Friday, just eight days after his 89th birthday, after a short, unspecified illness.
Chaney led Temple to 17 NCAA tournament appearances over 24 seasons, including five NCAA regional finals. He had 741 wins as a college coach, was twice named national coach of the year and his teams at Temple won six Atlantic 10 conference titles.
“Coach Chaney was like a father to me,” former player and current Temple coach Aaron McKie said. “He taught not just me, but all of his players more than just how to succeed in basketball. He taught us life lessons to make us better individuals off the court.”