Temple assistant men’s basketball coach Bill Courtney has died at the age of 55, the program confirmed Tuesday. Courtney joined the Owls’ coaching staff in the summer of 2025 and quickly became a respected voice within the program, earning praise for his experience, preparation, and approach to the game.

Temple head coach Adam Fisher said he was “shocked and heartbroken” by Courtney’s passing, describing him as a close friend and one of the most respected coaches in college basketball. Fisher said Courtney made a significant impact on the program in a short period of time and was deeply committed to winning the right way, both on and off the court.

Temple athletic director Arthur Johnson also expressed his condolences, saying he was saddened by the sudden loss. Johnson noted that Courtney brought energy and joy to the program and said his influence was felt immediately within the Temple basketball family and across the wider college basketball community.

Courtney arrived at Temple after several seasons at Miami, where he joined the Hurricanes’ staff at the start of the 2019–20 season. He was promoted to associate head coach in 2022 and later served as Miami’s interim head coach during the 2024–25 season after longtime coach Jim Larrañaga stepped down. Miami struggled during that stretch, but Courtney was widely praised for his professionalism while leading the program through a difficult transition.

Prior to his time at Miami, Courtney spent two seasons as an assistant coach at DePaul. He also served as the head coach at Cornell from 2010 through 2016, guiding the Big Red through multiple competitive Ivy League seasons and helping to develop several players who went on to successful professional and coaching careers.

A former Bucknell player, Courtney began his coaching career shortly after his playing days ended in the early 1990s. He worked his way up through the ranks, starting as a high school assistant before landing his first college coaching role at American University in 1995. Over more than three decades in the sport, he built a reputation as a steady program builder and trusted mentor.

Temple has not released further details surrounding Courtney’s death. As tributes continue to pour in, colleagues and players alike have emphasized the same themes — his love for the game, his dedication to his players, and the positive influence he left everywhere he coached.