LSU Coach Who Recruited Teenage Shaq Dies at 90

Dale Brown, a longtime pillar of Louisiana State University basketball, died on Friday, October 23. He was 90 years old. The former coach is best known for identifying a 13-year-old Shaquille O'Neal while stationed abroad.

Brown’s path to the NBA started in 1984 at a military base in West Germany. He was running a basketball clinic when a 6-foot-9 teenager approached him for advice. Brown initially mistook the young player for a soldier, asking how long he had served in the Army. Upon learning the boy was 13, Brown recognized his talent and began mailing him letters and exercise routines.

The two maintained a long correspondence as O'Neal grew into a national high school prospect. Brown recruited the player to LSU, where O'Neal played from 1989 to 1992. During his time in Baton Rouge, O'Neal earned two consensus All-American selections and was named SEC Player of the Year twice. He entered the 1992 NBA draft as the No. 1 overall pick.

O'Neal has spoken frequently about the influence Brown had on his life. In a 2015 interview with Esquire, he described the coach as a father figure, leader, and motivator. In a 1999 letter published by LSU Athletics, O'Neal wrote that Brown was the only college coach he ever had and the only one he ever wanted.

The relationship continued after O'Neal's departure from the university. Brown attended the 2000 Los Angeles Lakers championship game, marking O'Neal's first NBA title. That same year, O'Neal returned to LSU to complete his degree, fulfilling a promise made to Brown and his family in 1992. According to the university, the two stayed in regular contact through letters and emails for decades.

Just two days before his death, Brown received news of a major honor. On October 21, LSU announced that he was selected as the 2027 recipient of the John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching Award. O'Neal recorded a video message to congratulate the coach. Brown was scheduled to accept the award in April 2027.