Temple University Athletics
Men's Basketball
Bill Courtney
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
Temple University was deeply saddened to announce the sudden passing of assistant men's basketball coach Bill Courtney on January 13, 2026.
"I am shocked and heartbroken by the tragic news and passing of my close friend Bill Courtney," said Temple head coach Adam Fisher. "Bill made such a big impact on our program in such a short time. He was one of the most respected coaches in the country - thoughtful, prepared, and deeply committed to the game and to winning the right way. Bill made every program he touched better, and 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 joined the Temple men's basketball staff in June 2025, bringing more than 30 years of collegiate coaching experience to the Owls. Prior to Temple, he spent five seasons with the University of Miami, where he helped guide the Hurricanes to three NCAA Tournament appearances - including a 2023 Final Four run - and served as interim head coach for the final 19 games of the 2024-25 season following the retirement of Jim Larrañaga.
"I was shocked and saddened to learn of the sudden passing of coach Bill Courtney," Vice President/Debbie & Stanley Lefkowitz '65 Director of Athletics Arthur Johnson said. "In the short time that he has been part of the Temple family, I saw the impact that he had on our program with the joy that exuded from him on and off the court. He will be missed by his immediate family, his Temple basketball family, and the greater basketball community."
Throughout his career, Courtney was widely respected for his knowledge of the game and his success across multiple programs. He coached in nine postseason tournaments - including three NCAA Tournaments, four NITs, and two CBI appearances - and held assistant coaching roles at American, Bowling Green, George Mason, Providence, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and DePaul. From 2010 to 2016, he served as head coach at Cornell University.
A native of Alexandria, Virginia, Courtney was a standout collegiate player at Bucknell University, earning All-Patriot League honors and graduating in 1992 with a degree in education. He was inducted into the Bucknell Athletics Hall of Fame in 2007 and remains among the program's all-time leaders in points and assists.
Bill Courtney joined the Temple men's basketball staff as an assistant coach in June 2025.
Courtney joins the Owls after spending the past five seasons at Miami (Fla.), where he helped guide the Hurricanes to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including a run to the 2023 Final Four. He most recently served as Miami's interim head coach for the final 19 games of the 2024–25 season following the retirement of legendary head coach Jim Larrañaga. Both Fisher and Courtney served as assistant coaches under Larrañaga at Miami for two seasons in 2019-20 and 2020-21.
"We are thrilled to add Bill Courtney to our staff as an assistant coach," said Fisher. "Bill is a proven winner and one of the most respected coaches in our industry. His 30-plus years of experience, his ability to connect with people, and his tireless work ethic will make him a tremendous addition to our program. Bill has coached in Elite Eights and a Final Four—he knows what it takes to win. He's an outstanding communicator and a great role model who will help develop our student-athletes on and off the court."
Courtney has coached in nine postseason tournaments, including three NCAA Tournaments, four NITs and two CBI appearances. In addition to his time at Miami, he has held assistant coaching roles at American (1995–96), Bowling Green (1996–97), George Mason (1997–2005), Providence (2005–06), Virginia (2006–09), Virginia Tech (2009–10), and DePaul (2017–19).
From 2010 to 2016, Courtney served as the head coach at Cornell.
He is also credited with helping recruit and build the George Mason team that made a historic run to the 2006 NCAA Final Four under Larrañaga. During his eight seasons with the Patriots, including time as associate head coach, he helped guide the program to two CAA regular-season titles and four postseason appearances (1999 and 2001 NCAA Tournaments, plus NIT and CBI bids).
While at Virginia in 2006–07, Courtney helped lead the Cavaliers to an ACC regular-season title and a second-round NCAA Tournament appearance.
A native of Alexandria, Va., Courtney played collegiately at Bucknell, where he earned All-Patriot League honors as a senior and graduated in 1992 with a degree in education. He was inducted into the Bucknell Athletics Hall of Fame in 2007 and remains among the program's all-time leaders in points and assists.
The Bill Courtney File
"I am shocked and heartbroken by the tragic news and passing of my close friend Bill Courtney," said Temple head coach Adam Fisher. "Bill made such a big impact on our program in such a short time. He was one of the most respected coaches in the country - thoughtful, prepared, and deeply committed to the game and to winning the right way. Bill made every program he touched better, and 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 joined the Temple men's basketball staff in June 2025, bringing more than 30 years of collegiate coaching experience to the Owls. Prior to Temple, he spent five seasons with the University of Miami, where he helped guide the Hurricanes to three NCAA Tournament appearances - including a 2023 Final Four run - and served as interim head coach for the final 19 games of the 2024-25 season following the retirement of Jim Larrañaga.
"I was shocked and saddened to learn of the sudden passing of coach Bill Courtney," Vice President/Debbie & Stanley Lefkowitz '65 Director of Athletics Arthur Johnson said. "In the short time that he has been part of the Temple family, I saw the impact that he had on our program with the joy that exuded from him on and off the court. He will be missed by his immediate family, his Temple basketball family, and the greater basketball community."
Throughout his career, Courtney was widely respected for his knowledge of the game and his success across multiple programs. He coached in nine postseason tournaments - including three NCAA Tournaments, four NITs, and two CBI appearances - and held assistant coaching roles at American, Bowling Green, George Mason, Providence, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and DePaul. From 2010 to 2016, he served as head coach at Cornell University.
A native of Alexandria, Virginia, Courtney was a standout collegiate player at Bucknell University, earning All-Patriot League honors and graduating in 1992 with a degree in education. He was inducted into the Bucknell Athletics Hall of Fame in 2007 and remains among the program's all-time leaders in points and assists.
Bill Courtney joined the Temple men's basketball staff as an assistant coach in June 2025.
Courtney joins the Owls after spending the past five seasons at Miami (Fla.), where he helped guide the Hurricanes to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including a run to the 2023 Final Four. He most recently served as Miami's interim head coach for the final 19 games of the 2024–25 season following the retirement of legendary head coach Jim Larrañaga. Both Fisher and Courtney served as assistant coaches under Larrañaga at Miami for two seasons in 2019-20 and 2020-21.
"We are thrilled to add Bill Courtney to our staff as an assistant coach," said Fisher. "Bill is a proven winner and one of the most respected coaches in our industry. His 30-plus years of experience, his ability to connect with people, and his tireless work ethic will make him a tremendous addition to our program. Bill has coached in Elite Eights and a Final Four—he knows what it takes to win. He's an outstanding communicator and a great role model who will help develop our student-athletes on and off the court."
Courtney has coached in nine postseason tournaments, including three NCAA Tournaments, four NITs and two CBI appearances. In addition to his time at Miami, he has held assistant coaching roles at American (1995–96), Bowling Green (1996–97), George Mason (1997–2005), Providence (2005–06), Virginia (2006–09), Virginia Tech (2009–10), and DePaul (2017–19).
From 2010 to 2016, Courtney served as the head coach at Cornell.
He is also credited with helping recruit and build the George Mason team that made a historic run to the 2006 NCAA Final Four under Larrañaga. During his eight seasons with the Patriots, including time as associate head coach, he helped guide the program to two CAA regular-season titles and four postseason appearances (1999 and 2001 NCAA Tournaments, plus NIT and CBI bids).
While at Virginia in 2006–07, Courtney helped lead the Cavaliers to an ACC regular-season title and a second-round NCAA Tournament appearance.
A native of Alexandria, Va., Courtney played collegiately at Bucknell, where he earned All-Patriot League honors as a senior and graduated in 1992 with a degree in education. He was inducted into the Bucknell Athletics Hall of Fame in 2007 and remains among the program's all-time leaders in points and assists.
The Bill Courtney File
| Seasons | School | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1992-94 | Robinson Secondary School | Assistant Coach |
| 1994-95 | Thomas Jefferson HS for S&T | Assistant Coach |
| 1995-96 | American | Assistant Coach |
| 1996-97 | Bowling Green | Assistant Coach |
| 1997-05 | George Mason | Assistant Coach |
| 2005-06 | Providence | Assistant Coach |
| 2006-09 | Virginia | Assistant Coach |
| 2009-10 | Virginia Tech | Assistant Coach |
| 2010-16 | Cornell | Head Coach |
| 2017-19 | DePaul | Assistant Coach |
| 2019-22 | Miami (FL) | Assistant Coach |
| 2022-24 | Miami (FL) | Associate Head Coach |
| 2024-25 | Miami (FL) | Interim Head Coach |
| 2025-26 | Temple | Assistant Coach |
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