George Raveling, Hall of Fame coach who pushed Michael Jordan to Nike, dies at 88

George Raveling, a Hall of Fame college basketball coach who Michael Jordan credits with influencing him to sign with the sneaker brand Nike — a move that launched a cultural phenomenon — has died. He was 88. “It is with deep sadness and unimaginable pain that we share the passing of our beloved ‘Coach,’ George Henry Raveling, who faced cancer with courage and grace,” Raveling's family wrote in a statement. “There are no words to fully capture what George meant to his family, friends, colleagues, former players, and assistants − and to the world.”