Louis Orr, who starred at Syracuse before a career in the NBA and as a head coach of multiple college programs, has died amid a battle with cancer. He was 64.
His death was announced Friday by the athletic department at Georgetown, where he spent five years as an assistant coach before transitioning this spring to special assistant to head coach Patrick Ewing.
Orr, a 6-foot-8 forward, appeared in 116 games over four seasons (1976-80) at Syracuse, arriving the same year as coach Jim Boeheim. Orr averaged 12.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists, and as a senior, he earned All-America and All-Big East honors. He was part of a Syracuse team that went to four straight NCAA tournaments and compiled a record of 100-18.
“Louis Orr was the greatest man I’ve had the pleasure to know,” Boeheim said. “He came into my life as my first recruit, became a fantastic coach and colleague — but most importantly, he became a dear friend. I will treasure our years together. Sending my love to his family and our Orange family.”
Indiana selected him with the 28th pick of the 1980 NBA Draft, and he spent two years with the Pacers and then six with the New York Knicks, where he was a teammate of Ewing.
Orr got his first head coaching job at Siena in 2000 and led the Saints to the MAAC regular-season championship. After just one season, he became the head coach of Seton Hall (2001-06) and then led Bowling Green (2007-14).
He had a combined record of 201-201 at the three schools, and his Seton Hall program made two NCAA tournament appearances.
–Field Level Media