Gus Ganakas, 91, is the elder statesman of Michigan State University's men's basketball program. Take a look at some interesting facts about his life. Eric Lacy/Lansing State Journal
EAST LANSING — Former Michigan State basketball coach Gus Ganakas died Friday morning. He was 92.
Ganakas coached the Spartans from 1969-76, going 89-84, and laid the groundwork to land Magic Johnson before he was fired and replaced by Jud Heathcote.
“You’ll learn all you need to about Gus when you look at the way he handled being replaced as head coach,” current MSU coach Tom Izzo, who kept Ganakas around the program, said in a statement.