Hall of Fame coach Eddie Sutton, who won more than 800 college games and was the first coach to take four different schools to the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, died Saturday night in Tulsa, Oklahoma, his family said. He was 84.
According to a statement from the Sutton family, he was surrounded by his three sons and their families when he passed away peacefully of natural causes.
>> Photos: Notable deaths 2020
The former longtime Oklahoma State University coach died less than two months after his April 4 election into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Official statement from the Sutton family. #RIP #HallofFamer pic.twitter.com/0xImBZtSb6
— CoachSuttonFilm (@eddiesuttonfilm) May 24, 2020
Sutton was a four-time national coach of the year and eight-time conference coach of the year. He had an 806-326 record in parts of 37 seasons at Creighton, Arkansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma State, and San Francisco.
#okstate is deeply saddened by the passing of Coach Eddie Sutton. A Hall of Fame Coach with more than 800 wins, he revived our historic basketball program and will always be revered and loved by the #CowboyFamily. Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Sutton family. pic.twitter.com/gHA6NDVZoX
— Burns Hargis (@burnshargis) May 24, 2020
Sutton was preceded in death by Patsy, his wife of more than half a century, KOKI-TV reported. He is survived by sons Stephen, Sean, and Scott. Sean and Scott followed in their father’s coaching shoes. Sean is a current Texas Tech assistant and former OSU head coach. Scott is a current OSU assistant and former Oral Roberts head coach.
Sutton reached the Final Four three times, and only finished below .500 twice: his final season at Kentucky and during a half-season at San Francisco, ESPN reported.
I'm sad to hear the news that Eddie Sutton passed away. I went back and listened to some interviews I did when Eddie was elected into the Hall of Fame in April. It's great hearing Scott Sutton talk so glowingly about his dad and Brian Montonati about his former coach. #RIPEddie pic.twitter.com/mekLKUOGaH
— Nathan Thompson (@NathanDThompson) May 24, 2020
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