INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana Pacers said Tuesday that former NBA coach George Irvine has died. He was 69 and had been battling cancer.
Irvine became Indiana's head coach in 1984 after three seasons as an assistant with the team. He went 48-116 in two seasons and later returned as the Pacers' interim coach in 1988-89.
"He had a great basketball mind, which allowed him to function at a high level as a coach, administrator and purveyor of talent," Pacers adviser Donnie Walsh said in a statement released by the team. "George was a once-in-a-lifetime friend."
Irvine got a second chance with the Detroit Pistons as their interim coach in 1999-2000, and he spent the following season as their head coach. The Washington state native finished his head coaching career with a record of 100-190.
Irvine also served as an assistant with the Pacers, Pistons, Golden State, Denver and the Virginia Squires in the defunct ABA.
The Seattle SuperSonics drafted him in the eighth round of the 1970 draft, but he spent his entire playing career in the ABA, averaging 9.5 points in 325 regular-season games.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
