Royce Waltman, Indiana Basketball Coaching Icon And Radio Analyst, Dies At 72

Waltman

Condolences to family and friends of ROYCE WALTMAN, the former INDIANA UNIVERSITY men's basketball assistant coach and DEPAUW, UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS, and INDIANA STATE head coach and INDIANA radio color commentator, who died MONDAY night at 72.

WALTMAN, best remembered as BOBBY KNIGHT's assistant in 1981-87 and for taking INDIANA STATE to the NCAA tournament in 2000 and 2001 during a 10 season run in TERRE HAUTE, most recently served as analyst on HOOSIERS radio broadcasts.  He left the broadcasts in DECEMBER due to illness.

A statement from INDIANA head coach TOM CREAN read, "In just learning of the passing of Coach WALTMAN, we have profound sadness and feel for his wife, CAROLE, and everyone in his family. ROYCE was a very special person who gave so much to the game of basketball and without question impacted everyone he coached, worked with and supported. His knowledge of the game and ability to teach it was only eclipsed by the way he made you feel when you were with him. Personally, I respected him long before I came to INDIANA. In getting to know ROYCE here, I was incredibly fortunate to have become his friend. The genuine respect he would impart on me and the program was heartfelt and will always be remembered.

"The sign of this man's toughness was on our trip to NEW YORK when we played WASHINGTON and UCONN in the WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT (tournament).  We all knew he was in pain and he went great lengths to not show it and stayed focused on his radio duties. It was another example of what made him a great leader, his poise under pressure and putting others before himself. Not only are my thoughts and prayers with Coach WALTMAN's family, but with people like BRAD BROWNELL, RICK RAY, DICK BENDER and the countless others who lost a father figure."

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