Hank Raymonds Remembered
12/6/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 6, 2010
Members of the Marquette family offer their thoughts on the life of legend Hank Raymonds, who passed away Monday morning at the age of 86 after a long battle with cancer.
"The entire Marquette community joins with Jinny and the Raymonds family in mourning the loss our good friend Hank Raymonds. Hank truly holds a special place in Marquette history. He was an accomplished coach and athletics director, but more than that he was a great man. We'll celebrate his legacy and forever hold his memory in our hearts at Marquette."
Father Robert A. Wild, S.J.
President, Marquette University
"I will genuinely miss Coach Raymonds. I am blessed to have had the opportunity to have known him and to have been able to spend time with him and his family during my tenure here. I saw him for the last time on Friday and his spirit was as vibrant as it always was. He was selfless and his passion was for the people of our institution and of our department. I am grateful for his willingness to share his wisdom and we will continue to work to honor the totality of what he was about on and off the floor."
Buzz Williams
Head Coach, Marquette University
"Hank was the greatest. He was as important to Marquette as Al was and coach McGuire would be the first to say that. That's why they worked so well together. We loved Coach Raymonds so much. He gave us more than anyone could imagine every day. We were a family and Coach Raymonds treated us like his sons. Without him I wouldn't have a college degree. I had no father when I got to Marquette but I left Marquette with one, coach Raymonds. He did so much for so many. I will miss him dearly."
Bo Ellis
Former Marquette Player
"The Marquette family has lost a champion today. A true 'Warrior.' For me, I've lost a mentor. Coach was more than a basketball coach. He was my life coach. I'm saddened with his passing and lucky he came into my life."
Doc Rivers
Head Coach, Boston Celtics
Former Marquette Player
"The Crean family and our coaches and staff that have Marquette ties, were very sad to hear about the passing of Coach Raymonds. From the first day I got the job at Marquette, I knew Coach Raymonds was going to be in my corner and became a valuable friend, a valuable confidant, and a trusted friend."
"There were many times that we referenced Coach Raymonds and the abilities that he had as a coach and as a person. But his love for Marquette University, not only the basketball program, but the entire athletic program and the University always stood out to me as something that was beyond describable."
"He truly loved everyone involved with Marquette University and it showed. A great reward for me in nine years of being the head coach was to have a game end and to see Coach Raymonds after the game in the hallway on the walk back to the locker room and to get some words of wisdom, encouragement or direction from him. I miss that greatly and I appreciated that so much. Our condolences certainly go to the entire Raymonds family in this sad time."
Tom Crean
Head Coach, Indiana University
Former Marquette Head Coach
"Hank Raymonds will most be remembered as a coach who cared. He cared about the players' emotional and psychological well being, had a genuine concern for their academic endeavor, and was responsive to their needs whether it was home sickness or a bad complexion.
"Hank was a great ambassador of the game. He loved to talk ball and was an excellent tactician and teacher. But most of all, he was an exemplar of what it meant to be a caring and concerned coach. It was an honor and privilege to work along side of Hank. The game, as well as the players who he helped make better people, will miss him tremendously."
Rick Majerus
Head Coach, Saint Louis University
Former Marquette Head Coach
"Hank Raymonds was a good, kind, conscientious and successful man, coach, administrator and person who tried to support and help others to get better. We all are fortunate for the positive impact he had on many, many lives.
"We all have great memories of Hank. Personally, one that stands out for me is in our first year (1987) Hank was presented a check for $10,000 by the booster groups at a retirement banquet in the spring. He turned the check over to the University with the direction that it be used to support the non-revenue sports. He allowed us to use the money to establish the Hank Raymonds Endowed Scholarship Fund for Non-Revenue Sports.
"The move to the Bradley Center allowed us to sell undesignated seats in the first three rows behind the team benches. That money was put in to the Hank Raymonds Endowed Scholarship Fund and by the time we entered the Great Midwest Conference that fund had built up to upwards of $600,000 which was and still is used for scholarship support.
"When the university required us to use the seat income for our budget we then asked permission from Hank to use his name for an annual auction to raise money for scholarship. It was no surprise that Hank felt that if we were using his name then he ought to be involved. He did a great job with the committee and the auction was a success for many, many years. All this started with one unselfish act of kindness and support.
That was Hank Raymonds. Our very best to Hank's family, friends, fans and admirers."
Bill Cords
Former Marquette Athletic Director