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La Roche Basketball Coach Remembered

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - The sudden loss of La Roche College's head basketball coach, Scott Lang, impacted not only the community, but brought people together from all over the country Tuesday night.

When Lang was named the Redhawks head coach in 1997, he became the youngest NCAA men's head basketball coach in the nation at age 27.

The Kerr Center, where he spent so much of his young life, became a place of prayer and remembrance for over 1,000 people who came to memorialize him.

The outpouring of emotion was overwhelming from students, athletes, staff and family members. The court became a shrine for a night.

A single spotlight illuminated the chair where he sat for every game.

"On and off the court, Scott was a man of great passion and unwavering faith. On the basketball court, you could see clearly his love of the game and his devotion to his players," La Roche College President Sister Candace Introcaso said.

The players declined to be interviewed in order to keep the focus solely on their coach.

"You have all had a unique opportunity to know Scott. It was not an accident he was in your lives. I beg all of you to please take that piece of Scott with you and remember how he made your life better," Michael Lang said.

Lang's life was taken away too soon, but will be remembered and celebrated for many years to come.

The Red Hawks will resume their normal schedule on Thursday against CMU.

Meanwhile, a visitation is set for Saturday at St. Paul's United Methodist Church. With the amount of people expected to attend, they may have to move that service to La Roche.

The full memorial service will be available on La Roche's website.

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