GULF SHORES, Ala. — Sonny Moran, West Virginia’s basketball coach during a five-year stint from 1970 to 1974, has died at age 91, according to family members.
The Charleston native began as a WVU assistant and was promoted to head coach when Bucky Waters left for Duke in 1969. Moran produced a 57-68 record as the Mountaineers struggled through a stretch as an independent after leaving the Southern Conference.
His 1971-72 team started 6-0 and reached No. 19 in the AP rankings before leading rebounder Larry “The Deacon” Harris was killed in a Christmas break car crash.