Leon Black, 89, Austin – “Coach Black” to the many who knew and loved him – spent a lifetime built around three key pillars: faith, family and friendships. He went on to be with his Savior on Oct. 12, 2021, comfortably in his home surrounded by family.

Born Feb. 21, 1932, to Peron and Lillian Black, Leon grew up on his family’s farm in the small East Texas community of Martins Mill. In high school, Leon served as both the acting coach and starting point guard, leading his team of seven to a 54-4 record season and on to win the 1949 Texas State Championship. Over Black’s junior and senior years, this gritty team had a record of 109-8. Black was renowned for his jumping talent; this leaping 5’ 8” farm boy could take a single step and dunk the ball. Black would later be inducted into the Texas High School Hall of Fame. From 1949-1953, Leon lettered in varsity basketball at the University of Texas, he became the team’s starting point guard and eventually, captain. Black graduated with his Bachelor’s degree and his Master of Education and was a proud member of the Texas Cowboys, an honorary men’s service and spirit organization.

Following service in the U.S. Army, Leon returned to Texas to launch his coaching career. He began at Schreiner University, then moved back to East Texas to coach at Van High School and Lon Morris College. Coach Black led the Van High School Vandals to a 26-6 record in 1959. At Lon Morris, he built a 131-37 record over five years, leading the Bearcats to a runner-up spot in the 1962 NJCAA National Tournament, an unbeaten record in the 1963 Texas Eastern Conference, and a 7th-place national finish in 1964. Coach Black was named Jacksonville Young Man of the Year and National Coach of the Year.

In 1965, Coach Black was hired as an assistant coach for the Longhorns. From 1968-1977, Black took over as Texas’ head coach. Coach Black was responsible for integrating Texas’ basketball program by recruiting the Longhorns’ first seven African-American players. His players will all tell you that as a coach, Leon Black was a disciplined and disciplinary father figure. He held himself and everyone else to relentlessly high standards. At UT, Coach Black won two Southwest Conference championships, and a milestone upset of the University of Houston that put Texas into the Sweet 16 in the 1972 NCAA Tournament, as well as being named 1974 Southwest Conference Coach of the Year and Coach of the Year - Southwest Region by Coach & Athlete Magazine.

Following his resignation, Coach Black received other offers to continue coaching elsewhere – most notably from other Southwest Conference schools and from the Mexican Olympic basketball team. Coach Black was a Longhorn for life. Until 2008, Coach Black held a position as an Assistant Athletic Director. From 1964-2018, Black only missed three home basketball games. Coach Black was inducted into the UT Hall of Honor in 1989 and the Greater Austin Sports Foundation Hall of Honor in 2020.

Coach Black had a few other passions besides Longhorn sports ...black bass fishing in East Texas and playing bad golf with his friends. Coach Black had two minor vices throughout his lifetime; a craving for some tobacco [pipe, chewing tobacco, then chewing double wrapped cigars] and his nightly bowl of Bluebell Homemade Vanilla ice cream.

At the center of Coach Black’s life was the cherished relationships with his wife, kids and grandkids. Black and his wife, Peggy, were the all-American East Texas couple. Their 64 years of marriage was a true love story, arguments were few and far between, a faithful relationship that served as an example for their children and friends. Coach Black and Peggy had four children – Chuck, Natalie, Audrey, and Jason.

Black was a humble man of God and was deeply rooted in his Christian faith. Coach Black kept God heart-centered through ritual: praying prior to eating, reading daily devotionals, and serving as a deacon at Hyde Park Baptist Church for over a half-century.

Coach Black is survived by his wife, Peggy Black; son, Chuck Black; daughter, Natalie Hetherly and husband Mike Hetherly; son, Jason Black and wife Kelly Black and grandchildren, Blake and Brandon Hetherly, Gaston and Chantal Reeder, Ally and Katie Black.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Peron and Lillian Black, his brother, Bill Black and daughter Audrey Black Reeder.

As they say in athletics, Black left it all out on the court.

“He fought the good fight. He ran the race well. He kept the faith.” (II Timothy 4:7)