KSU's winningest coach dies at 74

Former Kentucky State University basketball coach Lucias T. Mitchell, who led the Thorobreds to three straight NAIA national titles (1970-72), died in his sleep Tuesday, according to a news release from the school. He was 74.

Mr. Mitchell was KSU's winningest basketball coach with 192 wins in eight seasons. The second of the national championship teams was 31-2.

At a time Southern universities were predominantly white, Mr. Mitchell was known for recruiting in the South by selling African-American players on Kentucky State's reputation as a historically black school.

Talent on Mr. Mitchell's 1970 team included Travis "The Machine" Grant and Elmore Smith, who ended up being back-to-back first-round NBA draft picks. He recruited Grant from Clayton, Ala., and Smith from Macon, Ga.

"I really made my choice of schools because of Coach Mitchell, and it was probably the best decision I ever made to follow Coach Mitchell to Kentucky State," Grant said Wednesday.

Grant said Mr. Mitchell was more than just a coach, emphasizing to his players the importance of being on time and attending class.

"He made sure that we understood that when the ball stopped bouncing, we needed to be prepared to do something else," Grant said.

Mr. Mitchell won national coach of the year awards in 1970 and 1971 and was the first black coach elected as an officer of the National Association of Basketball Coaches.

When Adolph Rupp was head of the NABC, he invited Mr. Mitchell to lecture at an NABC clinic at the Final Four.

Mr. Mitchell coached four years at Alabama State before coming to KSU and three years at Norfolk State afterward. In his 15-year career, he was 325-103 losses, according to KSU.

KSU announced in 2008 it would name Exum Center basketball floor after Mr. Mitchell. He was inducted into the KSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002.

Grant said he spoke with Mr. Mitchell last week.

"He said, 'Travis, this is the last time we will probably talk,'" Grant said. "At that point I knew he wasn't doing well, because he is a fighter."

Funeral arrangements are pending.

This story was originally published February 25, 2010 at 7:38 AM with the headline "KSU's winningest coach dies at 74."