John Shumate, who played a pivotal role in Notre Dame’s unexpected victory over UCLA in 1974, has passed away at 72 years old. His death was confirmed by Notre Dame on Monday.
Shumate was a standout player at Notre Dame from 1971 to 1974, earning first-team Associated Press All-America honors in 1974. The Phoenix Suns selected him as the fourth overall pick in the 1974 NBA Draft, and he continued to compete in the league until 1981. After his playing days, he embarked on a significant coaching career at both the collegiate and professional levels.
Reflecting on his journey, Shumate expressed gratitude during his induction into Notre Dame’s ring of honor in 2022, emphasizing the importance of discipline and self-care. “When you pay the price and do things the right way and take care of yourself — your body, your mind — and stay true to yourself, good things can happen for you and to you,” he remarked, valuing the experience.
In the historic game on January 19, 1974, Shumate had an impressive performance with 24 points and 11 rebounds, leading Notre Dame to a stunning 71-70 victory over UCLA, which was marked by its then-record 88-game winning streak. On the morning of the game, he reached out to his father, a Pentecostal minister, to discuss his anxieties about facing a formidable opponent. Following a phone prayer from his father, Shumate felt empowered to take on the challenge ahead.
Shumate’s contributions were vital as he secured a crucial rebound in the dying moments of the match, celebrating by tossing the ball in the air amidst the excitement. In light of that monumental victory, he reflected in 2022, “I’m still very proud of it, our guys and our team, the fact we could go out and pull off something that was so vital and important for, I think, college basketball.” He acknowledged the Bruins’ dominance at that time but took pride in Notre Dame’s accomplishment as they proved to be the better team on that occasion.
Despite battling various health concerns throughout his college career, Shumate still managed to average 22.6 points and 11.6 rebounds during his time at Notre Dame. He faced serious challenges like a blood clot in his calf and a viral infection affecting his heart, which led him to intensive care and a significant weight loss of 45 pounds. He concluded his college career with a remarkable average of 28.7 points over three games in the 1974 NCAA Tournament.
Over his NBA career, Shumate recorded averages of 12.3 points and 7.5 rebounds while playing for several teams, including the Suns, Buffalo Braves, Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, and Seattle SuperSonics. He was recognized as a member of the NBA all-rookie team during the 1975-76 season.
Following his playing career, Shumate transitioned into coaching, posting a record of 78-118 at SMU from 1988 to 1995. He notably led SMU’s 1992-93 team to a 20-8 record and an NCAA Tournament appearance. Additionally, Shumate served as head coach for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury in 2003 and held assistant coaching positions at Notre Dame during the 1981-82 and 1986-88 seasons, as well as with the Suns in 2009-10.
