Former Syracuse star, NBA player and college coach
WASHINGTON — Louis Orr, a star forward at Syracuse who played eight NBA seasons before going into a lengthy career in coaching, died Thursday. He was 64.
Mr. Orr’s family said Friday in a statement through Georgetown that he died Thursday after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
Mr. Orr helped Syracuse make four NCAA Tournament appearances from 1976-80 and earned All-Big East season and conference tournament honors during his senior year. His No. 55 was retired in 2015.
“Louis Orr was the greatest man I’ve had the pleasure to know,” longtime Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim posted on social media. “He came into my life as my first recruit, became a fantastic coach and colleague
— but most importantly, he became a dear friend. I will treasure our years together. Sending my love to his family and our Orange family.”
Syracuse’s men’s basketball program also shared a message mourning the loss of what it called “an Orange legend — a player, a coach, and most importantly a great person who made everyone around him better.
Louis Orr’s memory will live in our hearts forever, and especially whenever we look up and see his No. 55 in the Dome rafters.”
Mr. Orr was a secondround pick by Indiana in 1980 and played two seasons with the Pacers before spending six seasons playing for the New York Knicks from 1982-88.
The Cincinnati native moved into the college coaching ranks as an assistant at Xavier in 1991 and had stints at Providence and his alma mater before taking over the head coaching job at Siena in 2000. He coached one season there, five at Seton Hall and seven at Bowling Green.
Mr. Orr was an assistant in the Chinese Basketball Association for one year before joining coach Patrick Ewing’s staff at Georgetown. He spent five seasons as a
Hoyas assistant and transitioned to special assistant to the head coach in the spring.
Mr. Ewing said he lost a great friend and someone who had been in his life since he was 22 and breaking into the NBA.
“We developed a friendship and a brotherhood,” Mr. Ewing said in a statement. “He was always someone I could talk to — we would talk about life, we would talk about basketball, we would talk about family. He will be truly missed and he will forever be part of this (Georgetown) program.”
“Louis was a true gentleman, a terrific coach and a leader of young men,” Seton Hall athletics said in a statement. “In five years, he made a major impact on our department and helped our student-athletes achieve at a high level.”
“A gentleman and a true class act, Louis has been a key part of Big East history at four institutions,” the Big East said in a statement, “most recently serving on the basketball staff at Georgetown. He also served as head coach at Seton Hall, assistant coach at Providence and was a standout player at Syracuse, where he played in the Big East’s first season in 1979-80.
“Our condolences go out to the Orr family. He will be missed by all.”
Iona coach Rick Pitino, who coached Mr. Orr with the Knicks and Syracuse, also expressed his thoughts on Twitter.
“So heartbroken with the news of Louis Orr’s passing,” Mr. Pitino wrote. “My first Syracuse recruit n Knick player was as kind a person to play in the NBA — our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”