Legendary Missouri State and Saint Louis University
basketball coach Charlie Spoonhour passed away Wednesday morning at the age of
72 in Chapel Hill, NC, after a long battle with lung complications.
Coach Spoonhour had been in and out of the hospital for the past couple of
years after receiving a lung transplant in 2010. He had been diagnosed with
idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
According to close family friend Bob Ramsey, Jay Spoonhour said his father died
peacefully this morning surrounded by his family and was able to spend his
final moments with them at the family's condo near Raleigh-Durham, NC. He had
returned home from the hospital just a couple of days before.
Spoon, as he was more commonly known, spent 19 seasons on the bench with
Missouri State, Saint Louis and UNLV compiling a 373-202 overall record with
eight NCAA Tournament appearances.
Spoonhour’s first nine seasons as a head coach were spent at Southwest Missouri
State, now known as Missouri State, amassing a 197-81 record with five NCAA
tournament appearances.
“The entire Missouri State University family is deeply saddened by the passing
of coach Spoonhour,” MSU athletic director Kyle Moats said. “His legacy is one
of class, distinction and achievement, and he will be dearly missed by the many
lives he touched in his many endeavors.”
During his time in Saint Louis, he led the Billikens to the NCAA Tournament
three times over seven seasons, compiling a 122-90 record while creating a buzz
around the city with his unique brand of basketball known as 'Spoonball'.
"Charlie was a beloved figure to SLU basketball fans and St. Louis sports
fans in general forever," said Ramsey, who has served as the longtime
radio voice of the Billikens.
"The excitement that he created with 'Spoonball' in the 90's with the
Billikens will be hard to duplicate because he created more than just winning
basketball.
"His demeanor, style and warmth was embraced by the entire community and
that is what made him special."
Former Saint Louis media relations director Doug McIlhagga added,
"Spoon was absolutely the best person that I've ever worked with. He built
tremendous loyalty because he treated everyone connected to the program as the
most important person.
"He transformed Billiken basketball in the '90s into a hot ticket. Spoon
made it fun and popular to be a SLU fan."
Prior to the Billikens hosting St. Bonaventure in front of a heavy-hearted
crowd on Wednesday night, the entire arena paused for a moment of silence
before the national anthem while members of the student section held up spoons
in honor of the late great coach.
Current Saint Louis head coach Rick Majerus shared his sentiments for Spoon
after the Billikens defeated the Bonnies 86-62.
"He was a great guy. His legacy will be his children and family,"
Majerus said. "He has wonderful sons and a wonderful wife. He loved
SLU and was very respectful of the situation he was in.
"He was a genuine guy, a great teacher of the game and fantastic
competitor.
"He had a great life. We should all cash in at the end with that kind of
life. We celebrate his life well lived and his legacy. That is the most
important part of today.
"I am honored to be at a place where he coached. I know he did a great job
here."
Spoonhour announced his retirement from Saint Louis University following the
1999 season, only to return to the bench for UNLV in 2001. He spent three
seasons with the Runnin’ Rebels going 54-31 before retiring for good in 2004.
Spoonhour is survived by his wife, Vicki, and two sons, Jay and Stephen.
Private services will be held in North Carolina.
