| Wins against Kentucky - 1 | Losses against Kentucky - 7 |
Alma Mater: Indiana [1940] (*)
Date Born: February 6, 1918
Date Died: April 17, 1995
Overall Record: 107-125 [10 Seasons]
| Date | Matchup | UK Result | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/9/1965 | Kentucky at Louisiana State | W | 79 - 66 | - |
| 1/10/1964 | Louisiana State at Kentucky | W | 103 - 84 | - |
| 1/11/1963 | Kentucky at Louisiana State | W | 63 - 56 | - |
| 1/12/1962 | Louisiana State at Kentucky | W | 84 - 63 | - |
| 1/13/1961 | Kentucky at Louisiana State | L | 59 - 73 | - |
| 1/9/1960 | Louisiana State at Kentucky | W | 77 - 45 | - |
| 1/10/1959 | Kentucky at Louisiana State | W | 76 - 61 | - |
| 1/11/1958 | Louisiana State at Kentucky | W | 97 - 52 | - |
Obituary - Muncie (IN) Star Press (April 18, 1995)
Lawrence (Jay) McCreary, 77; Former Central Coach
Lawrence (Jay) McCreary, 77, former Muncie Central High School basketball coach, died Monday in Baton Rouge, La., after a long illness.
Mr. McCreary was one of the most successful coaches in Central's storied basketball history. The Bearcats won the 1952 state championship in his first year as the Central coach. The Bearcats advanced to the championship game in 1954, losing to Milan. The movie Hoosiers was based on that 1954 game.
Mr. McCreary is in the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach.
In Mr. McCreary's six seasons at Central, the Bears advanced to the semi-state level of the state tournament five times. McCreary's teams had a 134-32 record in those 6 years and won North Central Conference championships in 1953, 1954 and 1955. Central placed second in 1952 and 1957.
Mr. McCreary left Central in 1957 to become coach at Louisiana State University, during which time LSU beat perennial national power Kentucky for the first time. McCreary was demoted to assistant coach in 1965 and was in that position when LSU's Pete Maravich set several national scoring records that still stand. Mr. McCreary became an assistant athletic director after retiring from coaching and also led the university's women athletic program.
He had an 82-115 record in 8 years as head coach at LSU, with best season of 13-11 in 1961-62.
He was the equipment coordinator for the LSU Division of Recreational Sports at the time of his death. The Recreational Sports Complex at LSU includes a Coach Jay Conference Room that was dedicated to McCreary last year.
Before becoming a coach, he was a star player at Frankfort High School, leading it to the 1936 state championship. He also played 3 years at Indiana University and was an All-American forward on the 1940 national championship team.
After his playing career ended, he coached at Indiana in 1941 and 1942 under Branch McCracken before entering the Army Air Corps in World War II. After his discharge, he coached at Vincennes High School in 1947 and returned to IU as an assistant in 1948 and 1949. He also coached at DePauw University in 1950 and 1951, compiling a 25-10 record, before taking the Central job.
Mr. McCreary wrote a book, Winning High School Basketball, that was published in 1956.
Survivors include his wife, Mary; a son, Larry (Jay) McCreary; a daughter, Debbie Carrol Cook, and four grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in Rabenhorst Funeral Home-Government Street branch in Baton Rouge. Burial will be in Rest Haven Cemetery, Baton Rouge.
Calling will be 4-9 p.m. Wednesday and after 8 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
