Former Detroit Mercy and San Diego State head men's basketball coach David "Smokey" Gaines died Saturday at the age of 80.
"Our father, David 'Smokey' Gaines transitioned to his eternal resting place this morning. Sunrise: February 27, 1940 - Sunset: September 5, 2020," a Facebook post from Davita Gaines-Stewart said.
Mark Zeigler of the Los Angeles Times noted Gaines suffered a stroke in 2018 and suffered from complications with his liver and brain cancer.
Before he was a college basketball coach, Gaines was a sixth-round draft pick of the Detroit Pistons, but chose to try out for the Harlem Globetrotters instead.