SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH (WSIL) -- Hall of Fame basketball coach and McLeansboro native Jerry Sloan has died.
The Utah Jazz say Sloan died Friday from complications related to Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia.
Sloan starred on the court at McLeansboro High School and went on to play at the University of Evansville.
A star player at Evansville 1962 to 1965, Sloan was drafted fourth overall in the 1965 NBA draft.
Sloan spent ten years playing in the NBA, mostly with the Chicago Bulls. His playing career included two All-Star Game appearances, and he became known for his aggressive defense.
In 1985, Sloan became an assistant with the Utah Jazz, later becoming the team's head coach in 1988. He spent the next 23 years coaching the Jazz, leading the franchise to 15 straight playoff appearances with iconic players like John Stockton and Karl Malone.
According to the Associated Press, Sloan won 1,221 games in his career, the fourth-highest total in NBA history.
Jerry Sloan was 78.
