Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame Coach Bill Green dies

MARION, Ind. (WISH) - An Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame coach with six state titles to his credit has died.

Bill Green won his first state title with Indianapolis Washington High School in 1969, then moved to Marion, in Grant County, where established a basketball dynasty, winning state titles with the Marion High School Giants in 1975, 1976, 1985, 1986 and 1987.

The Marion Chronicle-Tribune reports Green, 77, died Thursday. He was visiting family in Indianapolis when he fell ill, the newspaper reports, and suffered a stroke and a massive heart attack, family friend Kerry Clevenger told the newspaper.

“For a coach to win six state championships when it was single class is unheard of,” current Marion High School basketball coach Billy Shepherd told the Chronicle-Tribune. “There will never be another coach in Indiana and Marion that accomplished what he did. And when you factor in teaching and motivating players, he was one of a kind.”

At Indianapolis Washington, he coached future Indiana Pacers star George McGinnis, who was named Indiana’s Mr. Basketball that year. That year’s Washington team is also in the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.

Washington beat Marion High School - also undefeated that year - by one point, 61-60, in the semi-finals game that year, then went on to beat Gary Tolleston school in the championship game.

After his five championships at Marion High School, he earned a coaching job at University of Indianapolis, his alma mater, the Chronicle-Tribune reports, then returned to Marion High School in the 1990s.

Green, who had relocated to Florida with his wife, Marianne, was supposed to be in Marion on Friday, the Chronicle-Tribune reported.

At Green’s request, a private ceremony will be held for family members only within the week, Marianne Green told the newspaper Friday evening.