Coach Cal Luther Remembered At Funeral Service In Murray

Family and friends gathered to remember and honor Murray State legendary coach Cal Luther on Sunday, May 16, 2021 at J.H Churchill Funeral Home in Murray, Ky.

Coach Luther, one of the icons in the history of Racer Athletics died May 8, 2021 at his home in Martin, Tenn. His passing means Murray State has recently lost two of its coaching legends as Coach Ron Greene passed March 31, 2021. Greene coached the MSU men's basketball team from 1978-85.

When Luther was hired at MSU after a successful stint at DePauw, he began coaching the Racers in the 1958-59 season. When his 16 seasons came to an end with the 1973-74 season, Luther set the school record that still stands today of coaching in 395 games. His longevity produced three Ohio Valley Conference regular season championships and a pair of OVC Coach of the Year awards and NCAA Tournament appearances.

Coach Luther was inducted into the Murray State Hall of Fame in 1986 and to the OVC (2000) and UT Martin (2017).

After his four seasons at DePauw (1954-58) and then the Racers, Luther also coached at Longwood (1981-90), UTM (1991-99) and Bethel (1999-00). In all, Luther won 500 games in 40 seasons. He coached 17 All-OVC players for the Racers who were honored 28 times and three that earned the OVC Player of the Year award four times including Jim Jennings (1963-64), Claude Virden (1968-69) and Les Taylor (1971-72, 1972-73). All three are members of the MSU Hall of Fame. Dale Alexander, Steve Barrett, Dick Cunningham, Herb McPherson and Jimmy Young gave Luther eight members of the MSU hall.

Luther's 1963-64 team became Murray State's first squad to play in the NCAA Tournament. He led the Racers back to the NCAA's at the end of the 1968-69 season. The 1964 team was honored at Racer Hoopalooza in 2017 when the team made it back to Murray State along with Coach Luther. It was obvious even 42 years after he coached a game at MSU, how much he adored the place.

"Anybody who doesn't think that old friends are the best friends, hasn't been to one of these functions, I'll tell you that," Luther said. "This is an inspiring feeling to see all of these people from the past that are sincerely interested in this school and the program.

"Murray State has a manner about it and people are attracted to it and stay attracted even after they leave," Luther stated on the Runnin' with the Racers Podcast in 2019. "There are very few schools that can match what has gone on here 50 years or so in men's basketball."

Coach Luther and Murray State were also one of the first universities to desegregate. Stewart Johnson was one of the first African-American student-athletes to play at Murray State, arriving from Pittsburgh to play for Coach Luther.

In the time of OVC history when the Racers were in constant battles with Western Kentucky, Luther's Racers consistently played at a high level and had one five-season run from 1967-71 in which they either won the OVC title or finished second.

In the Luther era, Racer fans camped out days before a game just to get a seat at Racer Arena which was a new building having opened only four years before he arrived. From November 27, 1968, to February 21, 1970, Luther's teams set the arena home winning streak of 27 in a row, while winning 80 percent of the time.

Accepting the additional responsibilities of athletic director in 1967-78, Luther's zeal for sports kept the Racers strong in the OVC, winning the coveted OVC All-Sports Trophy in 1973 and finishing in the top three in All-Sports competition in eight of Luther's eleven years. During that span, MSU claimed nine conference championships in various sports. Luther was AD when Murray State opened Roy Stewart Stadium in 1973.

Several Murray State coaches shared their thoughts on how Luther had a positive impact on their coaching careers.

Coach Matt McMahon (2015-current)
"We are all saddened by the passing of Coach Cal Luther. I am appreciative for his incredible impact on both Murray State Basketball and Racer Athletics. Coach Luther always took the time to visit with me and talk about basketball and life. Not to be forgotten, was the positive influence he had on all of the student-athletes he coached in his hall of fame career."

Coach Steve Prohm (2011-15)
"We are all extremely saddened by the passing of Coach Cal Luther. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family at this time. Coach Luther left an amazing mark on the game of basketball and especially at Murray State University. Coach will always be remembered for leading Murray State to its 1st NCAA appearance. I was very fortunate during my time there as head coach to have several great interactions with him. Coach will be greatly missed."

Coach Billy Kennedy (2006-11)
"I am sorry to see coach Luther pass away. He was a great coach and a very special man. I enjoyed the time I got to spend with him. He was always willing to give me advice and mentor me in a respectful way, coach to coach. My prayers go out to his family during this difficult time."

Coach Mick Cronin (2003-06)
"Coach Luther was always supportive of the Racers. It was an honor to meet him during my time at Murray State. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and loved ones."

Coach Tevester Anderson (1998-03)
One of the things I remember most about Coach Luther is how intense his teams played and how well they were coached. Coach Luther was a wonderful gentleman and a tough competitor. There were so many coaches that looked to him for guidance and we always respected him for what he did for the game of basketball and on and off the court. He was a coach we all modeled in some way in our own coaching."

Coach Scott Edgar (1991-95)
"I'm saddened to hear of the passing of Coach Luther, but what a life to celebrate. When I came to Murray with my family in 1991, there were greats, but to us he seemed like he was the Godfather of Murray State Athletics. He set the bar high for basketball at Murray State. I knew coach as a very sincere man who had a kind word for everybody and likewise I never heard a person mutter an unkind word toward him. Coach Cal will always be held in high regard at Murray State."

Coach Steve Newton (1985-91)
"Coach Luther was the one who established the Murray State program at a high-level right from the start and we're now on a run of success that has lasted more than 40 years. My association with Murray State was all because of him. Cal visited my home when I was 15 to recruit by brother Bill. I'll never forget how he introduced himself as the new head coach at Murray State. He also recruited Ron Greene to Murray State. I had that connection with Coach Luther early and then later in life, I was fortunate enough to be part of what he started at Murray State."

Murray State University Athletics

Coach Cal Luther Remembered At Funeral Service In Murray

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