Former Marquette Coach Hank Raymonds Dies

Marquette legend Hank Raymonds, a successful coach and administrator at the University, passed away early Monday morning after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

In over 25 years at Marquette, Hank Raymonds served as the program’s 10th head men’s basketball coach, athletic director and assistant coach under Al McGuire and Eddie Hickey.

Raymonds, who played under Hickey at St. Louis University, joined Hickey’s staff at MU in 1961, where he remained when McGuire took the program’s reigns in 1964. As an assistant under McGuire from 1964-77, Raymonds was viewed as the cerebral basketball tactician to McGuire’s eccentric sideline persona.

Perhaps the most indelible image of Raymonds’ career was the long-time MU assistant sitting with his arm draped over McGuire’s shoulder following the Warriors’ victory in the 1977 NCAA National Championship game over North Carolina.

After Marquette captured the national title, Raymonds succeeded McGuire as Marquette’s head coach, a position he would hold until 1983.

During his tenure as head coach, Raymonds posted a career record of 126-50, for a winning percentage of .716. All six of his Marquette teams advanced to post season play, including five trips to the NCAA Tournament.

His 1977-78 squad went 24-4 and was ranked No. 3 nationally in the final United Press International poll and he was named the 1979 Medalist Sports Education Coach of the Year after his ’78-79 team finished 22-7 and was ranked 10th in the final Associated Press rankings.

Five of his players were All-America honorees and 16 players were selected in the NBA Draft.
After his coaching days, he served as the school’s athletic director from 1977-87 and was responsible for elevating MU’s women’s athletic teams to Division I status in 1985. Raymonds also laid the groundwork for establishing the Blue and Gold Athletic Scholarship Fund at Marquette.

For his service to MU, he was inducted into Marquette’s M Club Hall of Fame in 1996 and is also a member of the Wisconsin Athletic, Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association and the St. Louis University Sports Halls of Fame.
Raymonds was born in St. Louis, Mo., on March 5, 1924 and attended St. Louis University High School and St. Louis University, where he graduated in January of 1949 with a bachelor’s degree in education. At SLU, Raymonds was the first student-athlete to earn four varsity letters in basketball and helped the Billikens to the National Invitation Tournament title in 1949.

Raymonds is survived by his wife Jinny, the former Mary Virginia Haar, five children and 14 grandchildren.

Former Marquette Coach Hank Raymonds Dies

From Marquette University

Marquette legend Hank Raymonds, a successful coach and administrator at the University, passed away early Monday morning after a long and courageous battle with cancer. In over 25 years at Marquette, Hank Raymonds served as the program’s 10th head men’s basketball coach, athletic director and assistant coach under Al McGuire and Eddie Hickey. Raymonds, who played under Hickey at St. Louis University, joined Hickey’s staff at MU in 1961, where he remained when McGuire took the program’s reigns in 1964. As an assistant under McGuire from 1964-77, Raymonds was viewed as the cerebral basketball tactician to McGuire’s eccentric sideline persona. Perhaps the most indelible image of Raymonds’ career was the long-time MU assistant sitting with his arm draped over McGuire’s shoulder following the Warriors’ victory in the 1977 NCAA National Championship game over North Carolina. After Marquette captured the national title, Raymonds succeeded McGuire as Marquette’s head coach, a position he would hold until 1983. During his tenure as head coach, Raymonds posted a career record of 126-50, for a winning percentage of .716. All six of his Marquette teams advanced to post season play, including five trips to the NCAA Tournament.

His 1977-78 squad went 24-4 and was ranked No. 3 nationally in the final United Press International poll and he was named the 1979 Medalist Sports Education Coach of the Year after his ’78-79 team finished 22-7 and was ranked 10th in the final Associated Press rankings.

Five of his players were All-America honorees and 16 players were selected in the NBA Draft. After his coaching days, he served as the school’s athletic director from 1977-87 and was responsible for elevating MU’s women’s athletic teams to Division I status in 1985. Raymonds also laid the groundwork for establishing the Blue and Gold Athletic Scholarship Fund at Marquette.

For his service to MU, he was inducted into Marquette’s M Club Hall of Fame in 1996 and is also a member of the Wisconsin Athletic, Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association and the St. Louis University Sports Halls of Fame. Raymonds was born in St. Louis, Mo., on March 5, 1924 and attended St. Louis University High School and St. Louis University, where he graduated in January of 1949 with a bachelor’s degree in education. At SLU, Raymonds was the first student-athlete to earn four varsity letters in basketball and helped the Billikens to the National Invitation Tournament title in 1949. Raymonds is survived by his wife Jinny, the former Mary Virginia Haar, five children and 14 grandchildren.