# Mack Coleman

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**Mack Coleman** (July 18, 1952 – June 12, 1977) was an American professional [basketball](/source/Basketball) player. He played [college basketball](/source/College_basketball) for the [Houston Baptist Huskies](/source/Houston_Baptist_Huskies_men's_basketball) and was selected in the [1975 NBA draft](/source/1975_NBA_draft) by the [New Orleans Jazz](/source/New_Orleans_Jazz_(NBA_team)). Coleman played professionally in France during the 1976–77 season. He died from a double [coronary occlusion](/source/Coronary_occlusion) in a Houston jail after he had been arrested on an intoxication charge.

## Early life

Coleman was raised in [Flora, Mississippi](/source/Flora,_Mississippi), as the younger brother of [E.C. Coleman](/source/E.C._Coleman).[1] He did not play basketball in high school;[2] E.C. claimed that it was because of a feud with the team's coach.[1] Coleman admitted that he "messed around in high school" and only got by because he was E.C.'s brother.[3]

## College career

After spending a season at [Utica Junior College](/source/Utica_Junior_College) in [Utica, Mississippi](/source/Utica,_Mississippi), Coleman played with E.C. — now the star player for the [Houston Baptist Huskies](/source/Houston_Baptist_Huskies_men's_basketball) — in a gym at the [Houston Baptist University](/source/Houston_Baptist_University) campus and caught the eye of the team's coaches.[4] He transferred to Houston Baptist as a sophomore in 1972 where he was partnered with E.C. for his senior season.[5] Coleman played for the Huskies from 1972 to 1975.[6] He almost missed his senior season because of eligibility problems but managed to improve his academics.[3] Coleman averaged 22.3 points and 13.2 rebounds per game during his senior season.[7]

## Professional career

Coleman was selected in the [1975 NBA draft](/source/1975_NBA_draft) by the [New Orleans Jazz](/source/New_Orleans_Jazz_(NBA_team)) where his brother played.[4] He was also selected by the [San Diego Conquistadors](/source/San_Diego_Conquistadors) in the eighth round of the [1975 ABA draft](/source/1975_ABA_draft).[8] Coleman attended rookie tryout camp with the Jazz in July,[9] and signed in September[10] but never played in a game for them.[11]

Coleman played professionally for a team in [Calais](/source/Calais), France, during the 1976–77 season.[4] He planned to sign a three-year contract with the team when he returned to Houston in June 1977.[4]

## Death

On the night of June 11, 1977, Coleman was located by police acting erratically atop a Houston building and made threats that he would jump.[12] He was arrested on a charge of public intoxication.[13] Two hours later, at 1:30 a.m. the following morning,[13] Coleman [died in custody](/source/Death_in_custody) at the Houston Central Police Station.[11] [Harris County](/source/Harris_County,_Texas) medical examiners listed Coleman's cause of death as a double [coronary occlusion](/source/Coronary_occlusion) from an [enlarged heart](/source/Cardiomegaly) and extensive [arteriosclerosis](/source/Arteriosclerosis).[14] The medical examiner concluded that Coleman was not drunk and was instead likely experiencing an anoxic spell caused by his heart disease.[15] Coleman's conditions were hereditary and his brother was advised to see a doctor.[12]

E.C. said that he "loved [Coleman] more than anything in the world."[4] After learning of the news, E.C. lost substantial weight when he fell behind in a physical fitness program and later admitted it "took [him] a while to get [himself] together—mentally and physically."[14] On Coleman's death, E.C. stated in an interview: "I don't think I'll ever get over it."[16]

## See also

- [List of basketball players who died during their careers](/source/List_of_basketball_players_who_died_during_their_careers)

## References

1. Spander, Art (November 16, 1977). ["The Tragedy That Haunts E.C. Coleman"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/san-francisco-chronicle-the-tragedy-that/187320584/). *San Francisco Chronicle*. p. 71. Retrieved December 23, 2025. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. ["Huskies play at home tonight"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-houston-post-huskies-play-at-home-to/187331698/). *The Houston Post*. December 9, 1972. p. 74. Retrieved December 23, 2025. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. Robertson, Dale (February 26, 1975). ["Coleman can't shake disappointment"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-houston-post-coleman-cant-shake-dis/187332303/). *The Houston Post*. p. 46. Retrieved December 23, 2025. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. Bonk, Tommy (June 16, 1977). ["Mack Coleman's death stuns brother"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-houston-post-mack-colemans-death-st/187337802/). *The Houston Post*. p. 90. Retrieved December 23, 2025. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. ["Strong Field Is Promised For Mid-South Invitational"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-strong-field-is-promised-for-m/187331667/). *The Times*. November 21, 1972. p. 9. Retrieved December 23, 2025. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. ["Mack Coleman"](https://www.thedraftreview.com/?option=com_content&view=article&id=5243:mack-coleman&catid=76&Itemid=342). *The Draft Review*. Retrieved December 23, 2025.

1. ["Coleman Inks; Games Set"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-picayune-coleman-inks-games-s/187332681/). *The Times-Picayune*. September 17, 1975. p. 29. Retrieved December 23, 2025. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. ["Denver drafts Webster first; Dunbar, Coleman go late"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-houston-post-denver-drafts-webster-f/187332108/). *The Houston Post*. June 17, 1975. p. 47. Retrieved December 23, 2025. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. ["Jenkins, Milton Try For Spots With Jazz"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/clarion-ledger-jenkins-milton-try-for-s/187334320/). *Clarion-Ledger*. July 5, 1975. p. 20. Retrieved December 23, 2025. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. ["New Orleans signs HBU ex Coleman"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-houston-post-new-orleans-signs-hbu-e/187331717/). *The Houston Post*. September 17, 1975. p. 14. Retrieved December 23, 2025. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. ["Dead man identified as ex-cager"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-houston-post-dead-man-identified-as/187331160/). *The Houston Post*. June 14, 1977. p. 54. Retrieved December 23, 2025. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. ["Heart attack held cause of athlete's death in jail"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-houston-chronicle-heart-attack-held/187331273/). *The Houston Chronicle*. June 15, 1977. p. 38. Retrieved December 23, 2025. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. ["City jail prisoner found dead in cell"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-houston-chronicle-city-jail-prisoner/187331152/). *The Houston Chronicle*. June 13, 1977. p. 69. Retrieved December 23, 2025. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. Spander, Art (November 16, 1977). ["The Tragedy That Haunts E.C. Coleman"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/san-francisco-chronicle-the-tragedy-that/187320601/). *San Francisco Chronicle*. p. 72. Retrieved December 23, 2025. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. ["Coleman ruled coronary victim"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-houston-post-coleman-ruled-coronary/187331220/). *The Houston Post*. June 15, 1977. p. 64. Retrieved December 23, 2025. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. Bonk, Tommy (November 3, 1977). ["Defensive star Coleman holds own after loss"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-houston-post-defensive-star-coleman/187320768/). *The Houston Post*. p. 43. Retrieved December 23, 2025. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

## External links

- [Mack Coleman college stats](https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/mack-coleman-1.html) at [Sports Reference](/source/Sports_Reference)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mack Coleman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mack_Coleman) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mack_Coleman?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.