Kevin Mackey, a former head coach of men’s basketball at Cleveland State University, passed away at the age of 79 on November 11, 2025.
He was married to Kathleen and had three children.
Mackey was a high school coach at the former Don Bosco Technical High School, where he led his team to the 1976 state championship and three consecutive Class A Catholic championships.
He coached at Cleveland State University from 1983 to 1990, and his team made one NCAA and two National Invitation Tournament appearances. He posted a record of 144 wins and 67 losses.
Mackey was reckoned as a rising star in the collegiate ranks, but got fired for his long-running problem with substance abuse.
Later, he remained sober for over 20 years and received a standing ovation during the 20-year reunion of the 1986 Cinderella run.
Should I be given the opportunity, I will devote all my energy to leading one life, a clean life, to go home at night, to be with the people that love me and care about me. I think abuse of alcohol led to situations where I would move toward drugs. I brought this on myself. This is my fault. There isn’t anyone else to blame in this matter. I always tell my players to look in the mirror. When I look in the mirror now, I don’t like what I see. I sincerely believe that I am sick, that I have a problem.
Kevin Mackey
A Tale of Two Lives: Kevin and Kathleen Mackey
Kevin Mackey was the charismatic and fiery former head men’s basketball coach at Cleveland State University who experienced a dramatic fall from grace.
Sadly, he passed away at the age of 79 on November 11, 2025.
Mackey lived a life of stark contrasts.
He was a successful coach and a family man, married to his wife, Kathleen, with whom he had three children. But behind that image lay a secret struggle, which he described as a “descent into hell.”
He admitted to abusing alcohol for five years and drugs for three, saying he was totally out of control.
Mackey confessed to leading two lives: one as a public figure and family man, and another in drunken or drug-induced stupors. However, he claimed never to be under the influence during his team’s games.
He publicly gave immense credit to his wife, Kathleen, and called her a saint who lived with a devil. The married couple had three children.
I’ve known this man for 27 years, and this man is not the Kevin Mackey I know. The Kevin Mackey I know is inside there and will be back.
Kathleen Mackey
Sadly, the couple’s story did not have a lasting happy ending.
They eventually seemed to divorce, and the coach’s struggles with crack cocaine and alcohol caused his star to fade rapidly.
However, in a turn of fortune, he was given a second chance when basketball legend Larry Bird called and offered him a job as a scout for the Indiana Pacers, allowing him to rebuild his life and career.
Mackey’s legacy is a complex tapestry of thrilling victories on the court, hidden emotional struggles, and a hard-won redemption that demonstrated his unwavering passion for basketball.
His story remains one of the most poignant and unforgettable in the world of sports.
The Mackey family will soon hold a memorial service to celebrate the life of a dedicated coach.
Rest In Peace, Kevin Mackey.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Kevin Mackey was inducted into the American Basketball Hall of Fame in 2024.
- He was arrested for substance abuse in July 1990.
- He was the head coach of the Mansfield Hawks in 1990 and led them to the International Basketball Association championship in his only season as their coach.
