Majerus won the right way and his teams played the game with tough defense and precision offense. Majerus was always known as a coach whose teams achieved more than outsiders believed. In 1997 his Utah team defeated highly talented North Carolina in the final four to reach the championship game where they eventually lost to Kentucky.
I was fortunate to meet Coach Majerus while I was a student at UNC. It was a brief encounter with him Rick Petino and Bill Guthridge in I believe the spring of 1995. That encounter was typical of what I always assumed of Coach Majerus. Rick Petino was dressed in his best Armani suit and Coach Guthridge had on the familiar white shirt and tie while Majerus had a nylon wind suit that had of all things mustard on the front.
Everyone was always concerned about his health and at age 64 the man who everyone that played for him loved passed away due to health reasons. As disciplined as any coach out there his diet and health issues always got the best of Coach Majerus. If he can teach the young people in his life from his death it would be the importance of taking care of yourself in all walks of life. I will miss Rick Majerus, his sideline stomps and his stories of living in hotels to receive the mint the maids leave every day when they made his bed. Rest in piece coach. I doubt we will ever see another one like you.
