Northwest Indiana High School Basketball Coach Killed In Car Crash
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Marvin Rea, one of the most successful high school basketball coaches in Northwest Indiana, was killed in a multi-car accident Tuesday near Lafayette, Ind.
Our deepest sympathies and condolences to former #Purdue basketball player and Lighthouse Basketball coach Marvin Rea, who was killed in a car accident yesterday in Lafayette.
— Purdue Mens Basketball (@BoilerBall) December 6, 2017
Rea played at Purdue under Gene Keady from 1987-89.https://t.co/jp8TZSUu6U pic.twitter.com/sN8l4CRR78
Rea, who played college ball for Gene Keady at Purdue University, coached Bowman Academy to four state finals appearances and won two state titles, in 2010 and 2013.
Tragic news. Coach Marvin Rea was 1987 Trester Award winner from Gary Roosevelt HS and coached Bowman Academy to four state championship game appearances including titles in 2010 (A) and 2013 (2A). Thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of both victims. #RIP https://t.co/9Y2rW0Udkl
— IHSAA (@IHSAA1) December 6, 2017
Rea, 49, of Gary, and Kelli Nicole Bradley, 34, of Gary, were killed in a five-vehicle pileup about 3:20 p.m. Tuesday on southbound Interstate 65 in Tippecanoe County in Lafayette.
The Interstate was closed for hours after the crash.
Rea moved on to coach at Gary's Lighthouse Academy, where he was starting his second season.
In an interview with the Lafayette Journal and Courier, Keady said Rea was an outstanding leader.
"He was a little player Glenn Robinson wanted me to recruit because he said he would be a good leader — and he was right." Former #Purdue coach Gene Keady remembers the late Marvin Rea. https://t.co/qwCjZwfPTZ pic.twitter.com/9km3WkjdH3
— Nathan Baird (@nwbaird) December 6, 2017
"Shock, complete shock, I can't believe it," Tyrone Robinson, Bowman Academy's coach, told the Northwest Indiana Times. "Right now, I'm hurting real bad."