Bill Courtney, the assistant men’s basketball coach at Temple University, has passed away at the age of 55. His death comes as a shock to the college basketball community, particularly as he recently joined Temple’s coaching staff over the summer. Prior to this role, Courtney served as the interim head coach at Miami during the 2024-25 season, stepping in after Jim Larrañaga’s resignation.
Temple’s head coach, Adam Fisher, expressed his deep sorrow regarding Courtney’s unexpected passing, stating, “I am shocked and heartbroken by the tragic news and passing of my close friend Bill Courtney. He made such a significant impact on our program in such a short time. Bill was one of the most respected coaches in the country — thoughtful, prepared, and deeply committed to the game and to winning the right way. His loss is felt profoundly by everyone who knew him. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Bill’s family during this extremely difficult time.”
Courtney had a notable coaching history, having been with the Miami Hurricanes since the 2019-2020 season, where he became the associate head coach in 2022. His brief tenure as interim coach in Miami ended with a tough season record after stepping in mid-year. Temple’s athletic director, Arthur Johnson, also reflected on Courtney’s positive influence in his short time with the program, highlighting the joy he brought both on and off the court.
Before his time at Miami, Courtney was an assistant coach at DePaul for two years and held the head coaching position at Cornell from 2010 to 2016, where he compiled a record of 60-113. His coaching career began in earnest after his playing days, starting as an assistant at the high school level in 1992 and transitioning to college basketball when he joined American University as an assistant in 1995.
Courtney’s legacy as a passionate and impactful coach will surely be remembered by all who had the honor of working with him, and he leaves behind a community that is mourning his loss.