Press Maravich: Born on This Date in 1915
- Jake C
- Aug 29
- 4 min read
Cover photo: Press Maravich coaches his son Pete in 1969 at Louisiana State University, where Press coached from 1966-1972. Photo credit: Associated Press.
One-hundred and ten years ago today, Press Maravich was born.
The father of Naismith Hall of Famer Pete Maravich, Press, whose given name was also Peter, was born in Aliquippa, Pa. From 1937-1941, Press played at David & Elkins College in Elkins, W. Va, where he scored 1,326 career points. Playing for the Clarksburg Pure Oilers in 1941, Press scored 30 points against the Detroit Eagles, a former member of the National Basketball League that became a barnstorming team. The performance made the Eagles’ head coach Dutch Dehnert offer Press a contract. Press played for the Eagles from 1941-42.
From 1942-1945, Press served in the United States Navy during World War II. He served as an aviation cadet, commander of a Black Cat patrol bomber in the South Pacific. Overseeing bombing and rescue missions, Press was awarded the Air Medal.*
After his time of service, Press completed his professional career playing for the Youngstown Bears of the NBL (1945-46) and Pittsburgh Ironmen of the Basketball Association of America (1946-47). Press played 83 games with the two clubs and averaged 5.0 points per game. During his playing days, Press displayed an aptitude for creative passes, like over the shoulder flips to teammates.* A sign of the future and his son Pete.
From 1949 to 1975, Press’ college coaching career spanned six different schools.
Press Maravich’s NCAA Coaching Career
Virginia Wesleyan University (1949-50)
David & Elkins College (1950-1952)
As the head coach of David & Elkins, Maravich led the revamping of a new gymnasium for the school.
Clemson University (1956-57 to 1961-62): 55-96
North Carolina State (1964-65 to 1965-66): 38-13
In 1965, Press was named the ACC’s Coach of the Year.
Louisiana State University (1966-67 to 1971-72): 76-76
Appalachian State University (1972-73 to 1974-75): 6-31
From 1961-1963, Press’ son Pete attended and played ball at Daniel High School in Clemson. Press served as his son’s coach there for two years before he got the job at NC State. Pete finished up his high school career at Broughton High School (Raleigh, N.C.) and Edwards Military Institute (Salem, N.C.). While at Daniel, the team that Pete starred on and Press coached played in the school’s first ever integrated basketball game against an all-black school.
During his time leading LSU, Press’ son Pete was the nation’s best scorer - and an all-time scorer - averaging 43.8 points, 44.2 points, and 44.5 points in his three years as a Tiger. Pistol’s 44.2 career college average remains a record. Under his father, he was a 1st team All-American three times, and the Associated Press’ Player of the Year and the Naismith Award winner. One of Press’ unique training methods in coaching his young son was driving on the road at varying speeds while Pete would dribble the ball out of the car window onto the pavement. No wonder Pistol’s ball handling skills are viewed with such reverence today.
In his time coaching the game, Press led basketball clinics in twenty-five states and seven countries. From 1977-78, he was a head scout for the New Orleans Jazz, the team that his son starred on at the time.
In 1978, Press was inducted into the Davis & Elkins Athletics Hall of Fame. That same year, he was inducted into the Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame, for his accomplishments while coaching Aliquippa High School (1952-1954) and Baldwin High School for the two years thereafter. Between both institutions, Press produced a total mark of 96-30.
On April 15, 1987, Press died at the age of 71 after an illness. Tragically, his son Pete passed away less than one year later on January 5, 1988, at the age of 40. In June of 2024, Press’ grandson Josh passed away at the age of 42.
You don’t get “Pistol” Pete Maravich without Press. Which means that without Press there is no revolutionary ball-handling and style that the likes of Larry Bird fashioned after Pistol. The same style that prompted Isiah Thomas to say, “The best showman of all-time? I’d have to say Pistol Pete”. The same that prompted Rick Barry to say, “He could do things with the basketball I’ve never seen anybody do.”
The same style that provided the canvas for the likes of Thomas and later Jason Williams and Jamal Crawford and Kyrie Irving and LaMelo Ball. One of Ball’s early career highlights is a three-quarter court pass that he zipped in the air during a game not too long ago.
Former Sacramento Kings’ dead-eye sniper Peja Stojakovic has a passing highlight in his career catalogue where he whips a pass behind his back from the opposing 3-point line to a fast-breaking Bobby Jackson. A dime in the range of 65-70 feet.
Shades of Pistol. All modeled after him.
Thank you, Press.
*Reference: Kriegel, Mark. Pistol: The Life of Pete Maravich. Free Press. 2007.
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