George Raveling, the Hall of Fame coach and former Villanova standout, passed away on September 2, 2025. He was 88. His family announced the news in a statement online, saying he died peacefully after a battle with cancer while surrounded by family.
“George meant more than words can ever express to his family, friends, former players, and colleagues,” the statement said. “He will be missed deeply, but his energy, wisdom, and presence remain in everyone he influenced.”
Raveling played at Villanova from 1957 to 1960. He returned to the program as an assistant from 1963 to 1969. After that, he spent three years on the staff at Maryland.
In 1972, he became the head coach at Washington State and stayed until 1983. He later led Iowa from 1983 to 1986. From 1986 to 1994, he was the head coach at USC. Across 22 seasons on the sidelines, he posted a 336–292 record. He was honored as Pac-10 Coach of the Year three times and received the NABC Coach of the Year award in 1992.
View this post on Instagram
In 1984, Raveling was also an assistant coach for Team USA at the Los Angeles Olympics. He worked with Michael Jordan as the team won the gold medal.
Following his retirement from coaching, he joined Nike as the global basketball sports marketing director. He played a major role in persuading Jordan to sign with the brand, which helped launch Air Jordan. Raveling remained in that position at Nike until his death in 2025.
View this post on Instagram
Raveling was also present for one of the most important moments in American history.
He stood on stage at the March on Washington in 1963 as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech. After the speech, Raveling asked King for a copy, and King handed him the original draft. The draft now sits at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
View this post on Instagram
Born in Washington, D.C., in 1937, Raveling grew up under difficult circumstances. His father died when he was nine, and by 13, his mother had been institutionalized. His grandmother turned to Catholic Charities for help, which led to his enrollment at St. Michael’s School for Boys in Pennsylvania. There, in ninth grade, he began playing basketball.
George Raveling Called His Wife the “CEO of Their Family”
Before his passing, Raveling was married to Delores. The two kept their relationship largely private, but he often spoke warmly about his home life. He liked to call his household “Team Raveling” and described his wife as the “CEO of their family.”
Raveling also explained that too many people pour energy and strategy into their careers while expecting their families to thrive on autopilot. He compared it to running a business—you wouldn’t expect a company to succeed without planning, leadership, and shared goals, and he believed the same principles applied at home. To him, family required the same commitment, communication, and structure people give to their professional lives.
Raveling’s Kids
He was a father to two children. Raveling’s son, Marc Raveling, attended Bernard High School, where he played basketball before moving on to Drake University. In 1989, while still at Bernard, Marc had his breakthrough moment as a guard when he scored 26 of his game-high 38 points in the fourth quarter. He even poured in 16 points in less than two minutes, though the Vikings ultimately fell to St. Paul, 103–101.
Alongside Marc, reports also note that Raveling had a daughter named Kristi Raveling.
