Former Tennessee State basketball coach Ron Abernathy dies at 75

Former Tennessee State basketball coach Ron Abernathy has died. He was 75.

Abernathy retired as the boys basketball coach at Humboldt High in West Tennessee in March. The school announced his death.

Abernathy replaced Larry Reid as the TSU coach in 1990 after spending 13 seasons as an assistant on Dale Brown’s staff at LSU. Abernathy played a key role in helping Brown recruit future NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal to LSU.

Advertisement

Abernathy spent two seasons at Tennessee State. The Louisville, Kentucky native posted a 12-43 record before resigning in 1991.

1 / 26

Tennessee State basketball vs Iowa State in March Madness

ST LOUIS, MISSOURI – MARCH 20: Aaron Nkrumah #30 of the Tennessee State Tigers blocks a shot by Jamarion Batemon #1 of the Iowa State Cyclones during the first half in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Enterprise Center on March 20, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

(Jamie Squire, Getty Images)

1 / 26

Tennessee State basketball vs Iowa State in March Madness

ST LOUIS, MISSOURI – MARCH 20: Aaron Nkrumah #30 of the Tennessee State Tigers blocks a shot by Jamarion Batemon #1 of the Iowa State Cyclones during the first half in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Enterprise Center on March 20, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

(Jamie Squire, Getty Images)

2 / 26

Tennessee State basketball vs Iowa State in March Madness

ST LOUIS, MISSOURI – MARCH 20: Head coach Nolan Smith of the Tennessee State Tigers reacts against the Iowa State Cyclones during the first half in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Enterprise Center on March 20, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

(Jamie Squire, Getty Images)

3 / 26

Tennessee State basketball vs Iowa State in March Madness

Mar 20, 2026; St. Louis, MO, USA; Tennessee State Tigers guard Aaron Nkrumah (30) dunks the ball against Iowa State Cyclones guard Nate Heise…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/former-tennessee-state-basketball-coach-235107518.html

Author :

Publish date : 2026-06-25 23:51:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.