Kevin Mackey, CSU's Cinderella coach, dies at 80. Remembered for the 1986 upset of Indiana and shaping Cleveland State basketball's modern era.
Tomi Š.
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Kevin Mackey Dies at 80: Cleveland State's Cinderella Coach
Updated: Nov. 19, 2025, 3:04 p.m. Published: Nov. 19, 2025, 3:03 p.m.
Kevin Mackey, the Cleveland State men’s basketball coach who led the program on one of the most famous upsets in NCAA Tournament history, has died at age 80. NCAA Tournament coverage and major outlets confirmed the news and outlined the arc of his coaching career and life.
Mackey’s breakthrough season is widely remembered as the birth of the modern “Cinderella” run. As a 14-seed in 1986, Cleveland State shocked No. 3 seed Indiana in the first round, setting off a national storyline about underdog grit and a program punching above its weight. The Vikings advanced to the Sweet 16 after defeating Saint Joseph’s, a run that remains a defining moment in CSU history. They were finally stopped by Navy in a later game, ending one of college basketball’s most enduring Cinderella narratives. Mackey was Cleveland State’s head coach from 1983 to 1990, compiling an impressive 142-69 record.
“Coach Mackey took a bunch of us under-recruited players, guys with chips on our shoulders, and convinced us we could use our ‘strength in numbers’ to gain an advantage,” former Vikings player Pat Vuyancih told csuvikings.com. “He was pure genius, and always entertaining to watch in practice, games, and with the media. He blended a unique playing style with a ‘Boston brashness’ to achieve a level of attention for our program and CSU that will be difficult to replicate.”
ESPN’s coverage provides detailed reporting on this part of his life and career. ESPN notes the relapse and the subsequent turn toward rehabilitation. After treatment, he spent the final 35 years of his life sober and continued to contribute to basketball as a scout for the Indiana Pacers, among other roles.
Key moments of Mackey’s tenure and impact include:
Mackey’s story reflects both the exhilaration of a great upset and the complexities of life beyond the court. He demonstrated how a team perceived as unlikely to compete could captivate an entire sport with a daring approach and a belief in collective effort. The public record—through ESPN reporting and CSU’s own memorial piece—adds depth to his on-court achievements while recognizing the personal challenges he confronted and ultimately overcame for much of his life after coaching.
For readers exploring this era of college basketball, Mackey’s tale offers several practical takeaways: the power of player development over prestige in recruiting, the importance of a cohesive team identity, and the impact a coach can have on a program’s trajectory even after the final whistle.
In summary, Kevin Mackey’s passing marks the end of an era defined by one of college basketball’s most enduring underdog stories. His leadership, resilience, and distinctive coaching style left a permanent imprint on Cleveland State and on the broader narrative of the NCAA Tournament’s greatest upsets.