Hundreds remember college basketball coach Rick Majerus at funeral

The Associated Press

Published: Sunday, Dec. 9 2012 3:44 p.m. MST

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Saint Louis interim basketball coach Jim Crews speaks during a funeral service for former college basketball coach Rick Majerus at the Church of the Gesu on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012, in Milwaukee. Milwaukee-born Majerus died Dec. 1 of heart failure at the age of 64 at a Los Angeles hospital. He served as head coach at Marquette, Ball State, Utah and, after a few years working as an ESPN commentator, Saint Louis for the past five seasons. (AP Photo/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Angela Peterson)

Associated Press

Summary

Hundreds of friends and fans gathered at Marquette University on Saturday to remember Rick Majerus, the impassioned college basketball coach who died of heart failure at 64.

MILWAUKEE — Hundreds of friends and fans gathered at Marquette University on Saturday to remember Rick Majerus, the impassioned college basketball coach who died of heart failure at 64.

Al Jensen, who played for Majerus at Utah and coached with him at Saint Louis University, recalled the portly man who loved food as much as basketball as a demanding coach and loyal friend.

"There wasn't a man as unique as Coach. You can't compare him to anyone else," Jensen said.

Majerus was 517-216 over a 25-year career in which he had 15 seasons with at least 20 wins, plus two 30-win seasons. He led Utah to the NCAA championship game in 1998 and also coached at Marquette, Ball State and Saint Louis.

Majerus died of heart failure Dec. 1 in a Los Angeles hospital.

Jensen said no one ever made him as angry as Majerus occasionally did, but he always respected his coach's passion and intensity. "He pushed you to your utmost limits," he said.

The funeral was held at the Church of the Gesu at Marquette, the Jesuit school where Majerus began his coaching career.

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