Columbus State's Herbert Greene dies after heart attack

Longtime Columbus State University coach and athletic director Herbert Greene died Monday night after suffering a heart attack.

Greene, 71, spent 25 seasons as the men’s basketball coach at CSU, compiling a 481­-240 record.

He won four regular­-season Peach Belt Conference titles and six PBC tournament titles.

Greene had 16 seasons with at least 19 wins. His teams made nine NCAA tournament appearances and two Sweet 16 appearances.

He was one of the founding members of the Peach Belt Conference.

Just last season, Columbus State named the court at the Lumpkin Center for Greene.

"I have been a blessed human being,” Greene said at the ceremony.

Greene was born in Eufaula, where he played basketball in high school. He went on to play at Auburn.

He later was an assistant coach at Auburn under Sonny Smith. Greene recruited Charles Barkley to play at Auburn.

Greene spent a portion of his career at CSU as the athletic director as well as the basketball coach. Under hus guidance, CSU won 48 conference titles and five national titles.

"He wanted to do all he could do to help you win," baseball coach Greg Appleton said earlier at the naming ceremony. "Everything he did was from a coach's perspective. He just thought that was his job to help you. And you didn't even have to go to him. He would stop by my office and see if I needed anything."

After Greene left CSU and later became the head of the Columbus Sports Council.

This story was originally published July 13, 2015 at 10:07 PM with the headline "Columbus State's Herbert Greene dies after heart attack."