PORTLAND, Ore. (June 2, 2017) – Former Portland Trail Blazers Head Coach Jack McCloskey passed away yesterday in Savannah, Georgia at age 91. McCloskey, who coached the Trail Blazers for two seasons from 1972-74, gained prominence as the General Manager for the Detroit Pistons during their two NBA Championship seasons in 1989 and 1990. He was the club’s GM from 1979-1992, and is credited with drafting future Hall of Fame players Isiah Thomas (1981), Joe Dumars (1985) and Dennis Rodman (1986).
Trail Blazers Founding President Harry Glickman, who originally hired McCloskey in Portland, expressed fond memories of the former executive in the following statement:
“The world of sports lost one of its greatest competitors in the death of Jack McCloskey.