"He put his arms around me like he found gold" - Shaquille O'Neal recalled his first meeting with mentor and LSU coach Dale Brown

“He put his arms around me like he found gold” – Shaquille O’Neal recalled his first meeting with mentor and LSU coach Dale Brown originally appeared on Basketball Network.

A global basketball icon today, Shaquille O’Neal has cemented his legacy as one of the most dominant centers in NBA history. Standing a little above seven feet, he was a rare combination of size, strength and speed. However, it was LSU head coach Dale Brown who first saw potential in him.

O’Neal did not have an easy childhood, with his father Joe Toney struggling with drug addiction and spending time in jail as well. A void that Army Sergeant Phillip Arthur Harrison filled in when he married Lucille O’Neal. Given his stepfather’s occupation, they were always moving bases.

Stationed in Germany at one point, a 13-year-old Shaq had the opportunity to meet Dale Brown, who immediately took him under his wing. The two communicated through letters, which involved the LSU Tigers coach breaking down moves and plays for him on a piece of paper.

During a recent appearance on the “Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard podcast,” O’Neal opened up about the impact that Coach Brown had on him.

“This is a time when you have to start believing in yourself and other people believe in you. Like he put his arm around me like he found gold. He’s like, ‘You’re 13!’ and he grabbed me. He said, ‘Where’s your father at?’ He met my father, and they had a conversation. That’s the reason why I went to LSU,” said Shaq, who was initially terrible at the sport.

Playing under Coach Brown at LSU

At age 16, Shaq already stood at 6’10” and played basketball for Robert G. Cole High School. Displaying complete dominance, he was named Texas Mr. Basketball and made First Team Parade All-American in 1989. Posting an impressive 68-1 record, he even had his jersey retired.

Enrolling at Louisiana State University for business studies, O’Neal reunited with Brown, and the protege-mentor duo put on one of the greatest shows. During his three years at LSU, Shaq averaged 21.6 points, 12.0 rebounds and 3.6 blocks at 57.5 percent efficiency.

O’Neal held a 64-29 record over his time in college. During the course, he collected several accolades, including the Adolph Rupp Trophy, UPI and Associated Press Player of the Year. Showcasing his versatility, he also won the NCAA rebounding and blocks titles.

A brief history of Brown’s coaching career

Brown began his coaching career at Columbus High School in North Dakota, where he coached the basketball division as well as the wrestling and track teams. He also served in the military during the Berlin crisis. During his one-year stint at Fort Riley, Kansas, the veteran coach tended to the basketball and field teams, leading each of them to a championship.

The next couple of years saw Brown juggling various coaching assignments until 1972, when he joined LSU. Taking the reins from Press Maravich, Dale coached the Tigers for 25 seasons. His coaching record stood at 448-301 overall, with four SEC COTY awards to his name. Undergoing several highs and lows along the way, Brown had his best years alongside O’Neal. He is cemented as a coach who could develop talent and leave a lasting impact on both his players and the program.

This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 17, 2025, where it first appeared.

“He put his arms around me like he found gold” – Shaquille O’Neal recalled his first meeting with mentor and LSU coach Dale Brown

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