Dale Brown, 90, dies days after LSU selects him for 2027 Wooden Award

Dale Brown died at the age of 90 on Friday, Oct. 23. He was a longtime LSU basketball coach known for identifying and developing the talent of Shaquille O'Neal. His death came two days after the university announced his selection for a major coaching honor.

LSU Athletics stated on Oct. 21 that Brown would receive the John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching Award in April 2027. O'Neal recorded a video message to congratulate his former mentor on the designation. The award recognizes individuals who have made a lasting impact on the sport.

The relationship between Brown and O'Neal began in 1984 at a military base in West Germany. Brown was conducting a basketball clinic when O'Neal, then 13 years old, approached him. The teenager was already standing 6 feet, 9 inches tall. Brown initially mistook the youth for a soldier and asked how long he had served in the Army.

Upon learning O'Neal was a teenager, Brown recognized his potential. O'Neal recalled in a 2015 Esquire interview that he lacked confidence in his skills at the time. Brown began sending letters and basketball exercises to the young player. They maintained a correspondence as O'Neal matured into a top high school prospect.

Brown recruited O'Neal to LSU, where the player competed from 1989 to 1992. O'Neal earned two consensus All-American selections and two SEC Player of the Year awards. He was selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 1992 NBA draft. In a 1999 letter celebrating Brown's induction into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, O'Neal wrote, "You are the only college coach I ever had, and the only one I ever wanted."

The two remained connected through letters and emails for decades. Brown attended the 2000 celebration when O'Neal won his first NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers. O'Neal returned to LSU that same year to complete his college degree. In 2015, ESPN released a documentary titled "Shaq & Dale," directed by Hannah Storm and narrated by Tim McGraw. The film chronicled their history from Germany through O'Neal's professional career.