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Former SLU basketball coach Charlie Spoonhour dies

Former SLU Billikens basketball coach Charlie Spoonhour, shown here at the helm of the UNLV Running Rebels, has died at the age of 72.
(University of Nevada-Las Vegas)
Former SLU Billikens basketball coach Charlie Spoonhour, shown here at the helm of the UNLV Running Rebels, has died at the age of 72.

Will be updated.

The man who brought "Spoonball" to St. Louis has died.

Multiple media outlets are reporting that Charlie Spoonhour, the head coach of the Saint Louis University Bilikens basketball team from 1992 to 1999, passed away today at his home in Chapel Hill, N.C. Spoonhour was 72 years old.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch says he had been in and out of the hospital for the past couple of years following a 2010 lung transplant. Spoonhour had been diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, which causes scarring of the lungs.

While at Saint Louis University, Spoonhour compiled a 122-90 record and took the Billikens to three March Madness appearances. Before coming to SLU, Spoonhour spent nine seasons at Missouri State University, leading what was then known as Southwest Missouri State to four NCAA tournaments. He finished his career with three seasons at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.

Rachel is the justice correspondent at St. Louis Public Radio.