Letters: McConnell and others remember 'Mr. March,' Denny Crum

Denny Crum, the Hall of Fame coach who led the Louisville Cardinals basketball team to six Final Fours and two NCAA championships died on May 9, 2023. He was 86. The Louisville Courier Journal received letters remembering Crum and celebrating his life. These are a few of those letters.

Denny Crum never met a stranger

The University of Louisville has lost the epitome of a basketball coach in the death of our beloved Denny Crum. He coached teams for thirty years with no scandals for the university to navigate legally or otherwise. What a testament when you think of the last scandal attributed to the basketball team.

His accomplishments are numerous when you consider winning the NCAA titles twice; going to the final four six times; basketball Hall of Fame member; coach of the year honors. He always had a moral compass of integrity, good sportsmanship, humility and competitiveness that his players relished during their years at the school and afterwards. He also had a fatherly aura about him that was necessary for players so young and being away from home the first time. This was a man of grace and goodwill to the university and our community.

Denny never met a stranger, as the saying goes. He was charitable with his time for special events, and the crowds just loved him.

Apart from basketball, he was an avid hunter, fisherman and a poker player winner. He will be missed, and maybe we can take some tenets from his life to make us winners. Also, if you are a UL fan and given some kind of program at their games, fold your program in honor of Denny Crum, his folding trademark.

Eugene Donan, 40220

More: Celebration of life for Hall of Fame Louisville basketball coach Denny Crum Monday night

Denny Crum was a 'yes man'

From 1973 to 1979, I worked for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana. Coach Crum had come to the University of Louisville two years before that and begun to build his dynasty. I'm not sure if a member of our executive staff or a member of our board of directors approached Coach Crum about the possibilty of donating a few tickets for each home game to our BB/BS matches but someone did. And you know what? He said Yes!

I do not know if this tradition continues but what a wonderful reward for the kids and the volunteers.

Rhonda Hackett Evans, 40205

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Louisville's championship coach

I am saddened to learn that Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Coach Denny Crum has passed away. For 30 seasons, he was Coach of Louisville and led them to NCAA National Championships in 1980 and 1986. My condolences go out to his friends and family. Denny Crum, RIP.

Paul Bacon, Hallandale Beach, Florida

More: Denny Crum, legendary Louisville basketball coach and Hall of Fame member, dies at 86

McConnell remembers 'Mr. March'

It’s with deep sadness that Elaine and I learned of the loss of the great ‘Mr. March,’ the University of Louisville Men’s Basketball coaching legend Denny Crum. For three decades, Coach Crum led the Cardinals to unparalleled successes, bringing the city and the university national attention.

His storied career included two National Championships, six NCAA Final Four appearances, and a well-deserved inclusion into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The Cardinal community loved their coach and will miss his calm leadership both on and off the court.  We send our deepest sympathies to his wife Susan and all of his friends and family.

Sen. Mitch McConnell

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Letters: McConnell and others remember 'Mr. March,' Denny Crum