Ed Jucker, 85; Coached Cincinnati Basketball Team to 2 NCAA Titles

Ed Jucker, 85, who coached Cincinnati to NCAA basketball championships in 1961-62 and had the best winning percentage in NCAA tournament history, died Saturday at his home on Callawassie Island, S.C.

Jucker led the team to its first national title in his first year coaching his alma mater, beating Ohio State 70-65 in overtime. The Bearcats beat Ohio State again the following year, 71-59.

Jucker also coached Cincinnati to the national championship game in 1963, but the Bearcats lost 60-58 to Loyola of Chicago in overtime.

Jucker finished 11-1 in NCAA play, a winning percentage of .917. His .801 winning percentage (113-28) at the University of Cincinnati is the school record.

Jucker also coached baseball at Cincinnati for seven years, and recruited Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax on a basketball scholarship.

He later coached the NBA’s Cincinnati Royals for two seasons and at Rollins College in Deland, Fla., where he had a record of 82-42, with two NCAA Division II tournament appearances.

He spent seven years as athletic director at Rollins before retiring in 1983.