John Matthew MacLeod was born in New Albany, Indiana on October 3rd 1937 and died on April 14, 2019 at his home in Phoenix. He was the cherished husband of his wife of 45 years, Carol and the beloved father of his two children Kathleen and Matthew. The son of Ann and Daniel MacLeod, he attended Providence High School in Indiana and graduated from Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky in 1959. He also received a Master’s degree in History and Physical Education from Indiana State University as he began his legendary basketball career as high school coach in Indiana. He became the Head coach at the University of Oklahoma in 1968 and coached there for 5 years. In 1973 John became the coach of the Phoenix Suns and is the longest tenured and most winning coach in their history, of course, highlighted by leading the 1976 Cinderella Suns to the finals of the NBA. John coached the Dallas Mavericks, and the New York Knicks before rounding out his career by returning to collegiate basketball to coach at the University of Notre Dame for 8 years.
John was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005, The Suns Ring of Honor in 2012 and The Arizona Sports Hall of Fame on 2016.
John is survived by his 5 grandchildren: Lucy, Grace, Maggie, John and Marco, his sister Margaret Burke and his Son-in Law, Bob Ryan and Daughter-in- Law, Lori MacLeod. A sister Dorothy Diehl preceded him in death.
A gentleman of class and integrity, he will be missed by all who knew him. May he rest in God’s love and peace.
The Visitation will be held at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix on Monday, April 22, 2019 from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm with a small prayer service to follow. The Funeral Mass will be held at the Franciscan Renewal Center at Our Lady of the Angels Church, 5802 E. Lincoln Dr., Paradise Valley at 9:00 am on Tuesday, April 23, 2019. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in his name to the Alzheimer’s Association Desert Southwest Chapter, at https://act.alz.org
Charles Scott
My deepest sympathy to the MacLeod family. I had the honor to play for Coach MacLeod 1st year in the NBA. From the very first day , his tutelage helped me achieve the goals that I would eventually reach. My prayers are with Kathleen and Matthew and especially to Carol, John ‘s cornerstone.
Curtis Perry
My condolences, prayers, and sympathy for the entire McCleod family. Coach McCleod was a great coach, father, husband, and person. For Matthew and Kathleen, your mother is just as great and she does it in heels. “Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
Delmer (Del) Harris
My sympathy to Carol and children Matthew and Kathleen at the loss of their beloved husband and father. Still, it is an occasion of victory because of the faithful life John led and the promises of a blessed eternity that are assurances for Christian believers. John and I started life the same year in the same part of the state in Indiana. We coached in public school and then started coaching in college the same year as well–John at Oklahoma and I at Earlham in Indiana. We became fast friends in the NBA in the mid-70’s and supported one another as fellow Hoosiers. We share a unique common achievement among the many and that is that we were the only coaches to have the last team to make the playoffs and go to the NBA finals–both against the Celtics. It will no likely be duplicated. John will not be duplicated either. He was a great man first in all that entails and a great coach–700+ NBA wins, Coach of Year at Notre Dame. Wow! What a life and now it goes on. He is a model for those of us who follow. Del Harris
Charlie Popp
So sorry to hear about John . He and I were on same basketball team that won the state senior cyo tournament. I was with him on his brief. Boxing career and followed his baseball team. I have some stories about the above if interested. Great guy and will be missed
Dennis
From God we come and to God we shall return. May God’s mercy forgiveness and blessings be upon you.
Your friend,
Dennis Moe Layton
Micki Shelton
Dearest Carol, I did not know John, but I know from noticing how you cared for him that he must have been not only a wonderful man, but a beloved, life-long companion. May peace be with you and your family at this time.
Jack Nolan
I loved Coach MacLeod. I learned so much from him during the eight years I had the honor of working with him as a Notre Dame broadcaster. Lessons that I carry with me to this day about how to live life with class and dignity, how to treat everyone you meet and how to deal with adversity. Everyone around ND Basketball knows Coach MacLeod laid the foundation for the resurgence of the program. I regret recent surgery will prevent me from traveling to Phoenix to pay my respects in person. My heartfelt condolences to Carol, Kathleen and Matt.
Julie McKnight
I was so sorry to hear about the passing of John MacLeod. I went to a small school (Smithville) in southern Indiana and he was my 8th grade teacher and our school’s basketball coach. I can say he was one of my most memorable teachers. I was so excited when I moved to Phoenix and he became the coach for the Suns! My condolences go out to his family.
Nina Koch
Dear Carol,
So sorry to hear the news. Condolences to you and your family.
Please know I care.
Nina
Steve Hudson
John MacLeod was simply the BEST! I met Coach when I was 17 and I really wanted to play for him at the University of Oklahoma. However, a knee injury changed all that! I stayed in touch with Coach Mac through the years until he hired me at Notre Dame in 1991. It was a great learning experience in hoops, but the best part of Coach is how he treated people! We all loved him and wanted to help him have success. I will never forget his voice and how he was interested in everyone who played and worked for him! RIP Coach!!!
Ron & Kay Shone
Your memory faded as you grew older, but our did not. You were the center of the golden era in Suns history and
will live on forever in our hearts and minds. Safe travels and bless you for what you gave the Valley.
Michael Chiaravalloti
Condolences to the entire MacLeod family. I was fortunate enough to get to know Coach as a basketball manager while at Notre Dame in our inaugural season in the Big East conference. Coach always exhibited professionalism and taught me multiple “life lessons” that I still follow to this day. He stepped in for my parents on Senior Night, who could not make the trip to South Bend, which I have always appreciated. I was saddened to hear the news of his passing and I hope that his family knows that his kindness and class had an impact on all that knew him.
Barb and Dick VanArsdale
John MacLeod was truly a, genuinely kind ,soft spoken and humble man!! Yet he was a fierce competitor and great example of a leader for many. Carol, Matt and Kathleen you were so blessed to have him in your lives and he was so proud of you. He will be missed by many but his beautiful legacy will live on. We are so grateful to have known him!! God’s blessings to you.
MG
Who could forget Coach Macleod and his Phoenix Suns teams. Brilliant. Enjoyed those teams when I was kid. Great man.