Cedric Dempsey, a legendary figure in Arizona Wildcats athletics, passed away on Saturday in San Diego at the age of 94. Known for his significant impact on the Wildcats program, Dempsey served as the athletic director from 1983 to 1993, hiring successful coaches like Lute Olson, Dick Tomey, and Mike Candrea. He later went on to become the executive director of the NCAA, where he played a key role in negotiating lucrative television deals and relocating the headquarters to Indianapolis. Dempsey also returned to Arizona in 2017 to help find a new athletic director after Greg Byrne’s departure.
Aside from his noteworthy professional achievements, Dempsey was a three-sport star at Albion College and a successful sports administrator at various universities. He is a member of several Halls of Fame, including those at Arizona, Albion, and Pacific. Dempsey also survived cancer three times and underwent two heart surgeries during his lifetime.
Moreover, Phoenix, Arizona, is home to several major professional sports teams, including the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, NBA’s Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, and MLB’s Arizona Diamondbacks. The city also hosts various major sporting events throughout the year, such as the Fiesta Bowl, WM Phoenix Open, NASCAR races, and Cactus League Spring Training.
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