University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Former Pitt Player, Coach Cleveland Edwards Passes Away
8/21/2019 12:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball
PITTSBURGH – Former Pitt men's basketball player and assistant coach Cleveland Edwards passed away over the weekend in Las Vegas.
Edwards was a three-year letterwinner at Pitt (1969-72) before serving as an assistant coach under Tim Grgurich at his alma mater from 1975-80. He finished his career with 243 points and 193 rebounds in 41 career games.
Edwards began his coaching career at the high school level following graduation from Pitt in 1972 before becoming an assistant at Robert Morris (1973-75). He then moved on to become an assistant coach at Pitt (1975-80).
He moved from Pittsburgh to Las Vegas and became an assistant football and basketball coach for Bishop Gorman High School. The school won both the basketball and football state crowns in 1983-84 with Edwards on staff.
Edwards was an assistant coach under legendary Runnin' Rebel head coach and Hall of Famer Jerry Tarkanian from 1984-90. During that time, UNLV made NCAA Tournament appearances in each of those six seasons, including two Final Fours and won the 1990 national championship.
Following UNLV's title run, Edwards coached at Marshall (1990-93) before returning to Las Vegas.
He served a second stint as an assistant coach for the program during the 1994-95 season on Grgurich's staff and became one of three UNLV head coaches that season. He was UNLV's interim head coach for that team's final 14 games.
After coaching, he served as an NBA scout with the Seattle Supersonics and Portland Trailblazers (1995-99), Milwaukee Bucks (2000) and Phoenix Suns (2001-05).
Edwards was inducted into the Robert Morris Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007.
A native of Pittsburgh, he was born on Feb. 5, 1948. When he retired, he made Las Vegas home.
Edwards was a three-year letterwinner at Pitt (1969-72) before serving as an assistant coach under Tim Grgurich at his alma mater from 1975-80. He finished his career with 243 points and 193 rebounds in 41 career games.
Edwards began his coaching career at the high school level following graduation from Pitt in 1972 before becoming an assistant at Robert Morris (1973-75). He then moved on to become an assistant coach at Pitt (1975-80).
He moved from Pittsburgh to Las Vegas and became an assistant football and basketball coach for Bishop Gorman High School. The school won both the basketball and football state crowns in 1983-84 with Edwards on staff.
Edwards was an assistant coach under legendary Runnin' Rebel head coach and Hall of Famer Jerry Tarkanian from 1984-90. During that time, UNLV made NCAA Tournament appearances in each of those six seasons, including two Final Fours and won the 1990 national championship.
Following UNLV's title run, Edwards coached at Marshall (1990-93) before returning to Las Vegas.
He served a second stint as an assistant coach for the program during the 1994-95 season on Grgurich's staff and became one of three UNLV head coaches that season. He was UNLV's interim head coach for that team's final 14 games.
After coaching, he served as an NBA scout with the Seattle Supersonics and Portland Trailblazers (1995-99), Milwaukee Bucks (2000) and Phoenix Suns (2001-05).
Edwards was inducted into the Robert Morris Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007.
A native of Pittsburgh, he was born on Feb. 5, 1948. When he retired, he made Las Vegas home.
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