Former USC athletic director Perry dies; led Trojans to 20 team titles

Published Oct. 21, 2014 9:02 a.m. ET

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Former University of Southern California athletic director Dr. Richard Perry died Sunday of a stroke and heart attack, the university says. He was 85.

Perry oversaw 20 team national championships during his tenure from 1975-86.

Under Perry, USC won eight men's and 12 women's national championships. The men's titles came in football, baseball, swimming, tennis and volleyball while the women's were in basketball, tennis and volleyball.

After his tenure at USC, he was the athletic director at UC-Riverside from 1987-92.

Perry was also the head basketball coach at Long Beach State from 1960-67 and had previously coached basketball, baseball and football at the College of Emporia (Kansas).

"Dick Perry created the `Trojan Family' concept at USC, bringing a sense of unity and family not only within our athletic department but with the alumni and fans," said Stan Morrison, who was hired by Perry as the USC men's basketball coach and then later served as UC Riverside's athletic director like Perry. "He was a great source of poise and reason for me when I was USC's basketball coach, and he provided me with great wisdom and counsel. I loved him dearly and will really miss him."

Perry was inducted into the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics Hall of Fame in 1984 and the Long Beach Wilson High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994.