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Who are John Chaney's wife and children? A look at legendary Temple basketball coach's family after his demise

John Chaney had been a devoted husband to his wife of 67 years and a doting father to his three children

Legendary Hall of Fame basketball coach John Chaney, who was best known as the former coach of the Temple University basketball team, passed away at the age of 89 on January 29, 2021. He was suffering from an unnamed illness for a short while. He had just turned 89 the previous week on January 21. 

He had retired way back in 2006, after leading the Temple Owls team to victory in 516 games. He propelled the college basketball team to 17 NCAA tournament participation in 24 seasons and reached the Elite Eight five times. He has a total of 741 game wins in his career, making him the first-ever Black coach to attain a record 700+ wins. 

Chaney's glorious career

Chaney joined Temple as the head basketball coach in 1982. Thanks to his efficient guidance and flawless mentorship, the Temple Owls secured five consecutive NCAA tournament appearances from 1984 to 1988. The 1987-88 team he coached ended the season with the No. 1 rank in the country. 

In his long stint with the Owls, he was named the National Division I Coach of the Year two times. In 2001, he was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and in 2006, he was ceremonially inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame. Chaney imparted the values of discipline, teamwork, dedication, and perfection in his teams. Even after retirement, he was closely associated with the athletic department as an advisor and guide. 

Temple Owls posted a heartfelt tweet from their official account fondly remembering the iconic man. 

Who are John Chaney's wife and children?

John Chaney is survived by his 89-year-old wife Jeanne Dixon and the couple’s three children. Chaney married Jeanne in 1953 and has stuck to her side always through thick and thin. The couple shared a loving commitment and has persisted together through all curveballs life threw at them - from a cancer diagnosis to their daughter’s suspected heart ailment. 

In fact, it was Jeanne’s cancer diagnosis and then his daughter Pamela’s illness that prompted Chaney to consider his retirement.

After his wife’s gall bladder surgery, Chaney, who was visibly shaken by the health scares one after other, had said, “That was three strikes, counting the cancer, and I didn't see a home run coming,” reported ESPN. The doting father and devoted husband in him decided it was time to bid goodbye to the court as an illustrious, unparalleled coach. Thereafter, he retired in 2006 and enjoyed life on his own terms with his family till the very end. 

Chaney was incredibly devoted to his family. There was a time when rage got the better of him as he threatened to kill Massachusetts coach John Calipari. Following the outburst, his wife and daughter reportedly stopped talking to him briefly, which caused him to render an emotional apology to Calipari and all the spectators of the incident. After his demise on Friday, Calipari tweeted an emotional note to the icon. "I’m so saddened to hear that we have lost John Chaney, a coaching icon, a Hall of Famer, a molder of young men, the ultimate competitor and a dear friend. Being able to compete against the best at a young age gave me a great opportunity to grown and learn," he wrote.

During the Covid-19 pandemic last year, Chaney had spoken out about the difficulties he and his wife were experiencing due to their old age. “My daughter and son-in-law come by and my neighbors check me out. My daughter-in-law keeps me stocked with groceries. It’s just, I’m not able to get out and move around at all. It’s a terrible thing. My wife and I, we’re at the age of 88, nothing good ever happens,” Chaney had told The Philadelphia Inquirer.