CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - Kevin Mackey, the colorful and controversial coach of Cleveland State’s best basketball team ever, died Tuesday from an apparent heart attack, his son Brian told ESPN. Mackey was 80.
Mackey’s CSU Vikings beat #3 seed Indiana in the first round of the NCAA tournament in 1986.
Led by guard Ken “Mouse” McFadden and forwards Clinton Smith and Clinton Ransey, Mackey’s Vikings advanced to the second round and next defeated Saint Joseph’s . The Vikings were within seconds of advancing to the Elite Eight, but a last-second basket by David Robinson upended CSU’s run with a 71-70 loss to Navy .
Mackey would later call that run “a magic carpet ride.”
Just 4 years later, in July of 1990, Mackey was arrested outside a Cleveland crack house. His coaching career was over.

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