Dick Versace obit

Former Pacers coach Dick Versace dies at 81

 

He was not on the list.

The Bradley University men's basketball program announced the death of former Pacers coach Dick Versace on Friday. He was 81.

Versace was 73-87 in parts of three seasons with the Pacers, taking over 19 games into 1988-89. The team went 42-40 in 1989-90 and made the playoffs for just the third time in the franchise's NBA history but Versace was fired after starting the 1990-91 season 9-16, with Bob Hill replacing him.

The Pacers tweeted: "The Indiana Pacers are saddened to learn of the passing of former head coach Dick Versace. We send our deepest condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time."

Versace was known for being a Renaissance man. From a Los Angeles Times article in 1989: "Perhaps it takes a man with an adventuresome streak and Hemingway’s macho posturing to coach the Pacers, who have been a movable feast for NBA opponents this season."

Versace grew up an Army brat, his father, Humbert, a colonel and his mother, Tere Rios, was a writer with the Flying Nun television series being based on one of her books.

Versace couldn't find a high school basketball coaching position coming out of college so he coached football, wearing a derby hat and winning the first conference title at Forrest-Strawn-Wing High in Illinois. He would eventually coach and teach English for 10 years at the high school level. In addition to Versace's love of Ernest Hemingway, he studied plant pathology -- he decided he was too extroverted to spend his time doing research alone in a lab -- in college and spent time in the Coast Guard.

"When I started to read Hemingway, I started to realize it was not unmanly to love nature and to be contemplative and philosophical,” Versace told the L.A. Times. “I was considering being an expatriate in Paris for a couple of years. It sounded like an interesting way to live. I could sit around the outdoor cafes, plan my day. That’s what they do. They wrote poetry and novels and short stories and traded ideas, went to the flea market, had love affairs. It was a really exciting period of time.”

Versace was Bradley's coach from 1978 to 1986, winning three Missouri Valley Conference championships, two MVC tournament titles, making the NCAA Tournament in 1980 and '86 and winning the NIT title in 1982. He led the Braves to a 32-3 record in 1985-86 but was asked to resign after the program was put on NCAA probation. He was accused of giving a player the use of a car and money, though Versace denied the allegation, according to a 1989 IndyStar story.

He was fired as Pacers coach for clashing with players and not developing a consistent style of play, according to IndyStar stories following the decision.

"Dick didn't do everything wrong here, it just wasn't working ... he just lost control," then-Pacers general manager Donnie Walsh said. "For a team that was 42-40, it looks like we've taken a step backwards and I didn't think it was going to turnaround."

Reggie Miller added: "Something had to happen. We needed a change."

Versace was an assistant for the Detroit Pistons from 1986-87 to 1988-89, serving as Chuck Daly's top assistant, when the Pacers hired him.

Versace later served as an assistant with the Milwaukee Bucks for two seasons, a b then became an executive with the Vancouver Grizzlies in 2002, serving as general manager in 2004-05.

After Versace's first season in Vancouver, the Grizzlies were relocated and became the Memphis Grizzlies. And in 2002, the Grizzlies hired NBA legend Jerry West as President of Basketball Operations, and Versace assumed the role of General Manager and remained with the team through the end of the 2004-2005 season. Prior to joining the Grizzlies, Versace worked for Michael Heisley's acquisition team as Versace oversaw Heisley's pursuit and ultimate purchase of the Vancouver Grizzlies.

Versace was the brother of Vietnam War posthumous Medal of Honor recipient Rocky Versace, who was executed by the Viet Cong while a Prisoner of War in 1965. His other brothers included Dr. Stephen (his twin), Trilby Versace, and Michael Versace Rios. Versace was divorced and had two children, David and Julie. He died on February 25, 2022, at the age of 81,

On October 8, 2007, Versace announced that he would run as a Democratic Party candidate for Illinois' 18th Congressional District seat, then held by Republican Congressman Ray LaHood who was retiring. On December 8, 2007, however, Versace announced that he would not be running due to "unforeseen personal circumstances.

Career history

As coach:

1965–1969           St. Joseph HS

1969–1973           Gordon Tech

1973–1974           Saint Louis (assistant)

1974–1977           Michigan State (assistant)

1977-1978            [Jackson Community College, MI men’s basketball coach]

1978–1986           Bradley

1986–1988           Detroit Pistons (assistant)

1988–1990           Indiana Pacers

1996–1998           Milwaukee Bucks (assistant)