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Former Oklahoma head coach Billy Tubbs dies at 85

Stephen Dunn / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Former Oklahoma head coach Billy Tubbs died Sunday at the age of 85, his family confirmed in a statement released by the school.

"Though his passing represents a tremendous loss for everyone close to him, our family is comforted by the knowledge he lived an extremely spirited life full of outstanding accomplishment in and out of sports," the statement reads.

"Many are aware of his remarkable achievements as a basketball coach, but we will remember him for way more than all of his wins, conference titles and NCAA Tournament success."

Tubbs had been battling leukemia since 2015.

He won a program-best 333 games as head coach between 1980-1994 and led the Sooners to nine NCAA Tournament berths, including a national championship game appearance in 1988.

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