Former Loyola basketball coach Bob Luksta passes away

Bob Luksta, who was the head basketball coach at Loyola-New Orleans when the school shut down its athletic programs in 1972, has passed away in Cicero, Illinois at the age of 92.

Loyola shut down its basketball program after the 1971-72 season, citing educational and financial reasons.

When the Loyola basketball program folded, three of its top players – Phil Hicks and John Kardzoniak and Ernie Losch – all ended up across the street at Tulane.

Luksta, a graduate of DePaul, spent four seasons as the head coach of the Wolf Pack (1968-72), posting a record of 47-54. His last two seasons were winning seasons. The Wolf Pack went 16-10 in the 1970-71 season and went 14-11 in the 1971-72 season.

After his coaching days ended at Loyola, Luksta would still make frequent trips back to New Orleans to visit some of his favorite restaurant stops, according to Peter Finney, Jr. of The Clarion Herald.

Loyola reinstated its athletic programs on the NAIA level in 1991.