LSU Libraries Special Collections is the place to learn about the university’s history, and on February 1, 2014, was host to a pre-game event about a historical era in Tiger’s basketball. Talk show host Jim Engster interviewed former LSU basketball coach Dale Brown (1972-1981) and LSU basketball legend Rudy Macklin (1976-1981) during the event, which was open to the public.

Rudy Macklin played at LSU between 1976 and 1981, going on to play in the NBA, first for the Atlanta Hawks, then for the New York Knicks. Macklin is one of only four men’s basketball players to have his jersey retired by LSU. Macklin, under coach Dale Brown, led LSU to the Final Four in 1981, and was the 1981 SEC Player of the Year. Macklin retired from basketball to become a banker in Baton Rouge. He is also involved in the Louisiana Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

Coach Dale Brown retired from LSU in 1997 after twenty-five years as men’s basketball coach. Leading teams to seventeen consecutive non-losing seasons, and to fifteen straight national tournaments, Coach Brown was named SEC Coach of the Year or runner up nine times, and was twice named National Basketball Coach of the Year. In his retirement, he has made numerous public appearances, speaking to groups of all kinds.