Durham, North Carolina – Brick Oettinger, 81, of Durham, N.C., passed away June 29, 2024, after a valiant 10-year fight with Multiple System Atrophy. He died at home, with his wife and beloved dog, Lily, by his side. A Celebration of Life will be held on August 17, 2024, at The Friday Center, 100 Friday Center Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27517, at 2:30 p.m., followed by a reception at 3:30 p.m.
His death leaves a void not only in the basketball recruiting community but also in the academic community. His loss will be deeply felt by all who knew him. Brick was a remarkable person, a loving husband, father, son, brother, mentor, and friend. He was a rare example of an individual possessing intellectual brilliance, impactful leadership, and genuine humility.
Brick earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1964 and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. He received his master’s degree from the University of California at Berkeley on a Woodrow Wilson Foundation Fellowship Grant. His scholarly journey led him to become a respected professor of Political Science at Murray State University in Kentucky. Subsequently, he was an adjunct faculty member at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and N.C. State University before his tenure at the Division of Continuing Education.
While many assumed that sports writing was Brick’s full-time job, it was not. He was the UNC Correctional Education Director in the Division of Continuing Education, which became The William and Ida Friday Center for Continuing Education from 1974 to 2014. He was a fount of institutional memory, providing continuing educational opportunities for incarcerated individuals. During his time as Director, more than 2,500 inmates took UNC courses; 250 graduated, six were named to Phi Beta Kappa, 25 completed master’s degrees, and five completed Ph.D.’s. Brick received the Outstanding Service Award from the N.C. Correctional Association, and the same year, was awarded the Innovative and Creative Award from the N.C. Adult Education Association (NCAEA).
Brick’s benevolence was always at the core of his work. His dedication to his students and his belief in the fundamental goodness of most people was truly inspiring. He spoke optimistically and proudly about his incarcerated students. His belief in second chances was unwavering, and he created a successful program that provided opportunities for success upon release from prison.
Brick also coached basketball in the North Carolina Prison League for 13 years. His influence was profound during his coaching tenure. His coaching was not just about winning games. He viewed athletics as essential to instill discipline, teamwork, and a love for the game. Brick’s team won seven Prison League championship titles out of 91 teams. His prison team was allowed to play in the Orange County Public League for six years, winning each of those years. One year, his team was allowed to play in the Eastern Regional Championship in the Public League and won with a 33-0 record. Brick was named North Central Coach of the Year seven times. He also coached prison softball and prison volleyball.
Starting in 1974, Brick freelanced for newspapers in Charlotte, Durham, Greensboro, and Raleigh. Soon after his early newspaper freelance work, Brick became the basketball recruiting writer for a newsletter known as “The PooP Sheet,” launched in 1977 and featured Brick’s columns in every edition. He was regarded as the most consistent, reliable, and influential voice in the corner of sports journalism that has gradually grown from an intriguing but tiny niche into a mega-million-dollar industry. Brick has the distinction of being the first person to bring Michael (then known as Mike) Jordan to the public’s attention in writing and subsequent acclaim in 1979, saying, “Jordan has the best combination of basketball skills, physical abilities, and intangibles from a high school wing guard I’ve ever seen.”
Brick practiced his unique craft for 49 years. His work has appeared in the ACC Sports Journal, ACCSports.com, a combination magazine/website, Sports Illustrated, and other media outlets, including his work at PrepStars.com and the pages of the Recruiter’s Handbook. Brick served on the McDonald’s National Selection Committee for the McDonald’s All-American High School basketball games for 21 years. He was inducted into the Chapel Hill High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2022.
David Glenn, long-time editor of the ACC Sports Journal and ACCsports.com, wrote that Brick was “one of the top basketball recruiting writers in American history” and went on to say, “The incredible, superhuman consistency of both his beautiful spirit and distinctive writing inspired me as a 20-year-old journalist to pursue a subsequent career in sports journalism and sports-minded entrepreneurship.”
Brick is survived by his wife, Leah McCain Oettinger; son, Brooks Oettinger of Columbia, S.C.; daughter, Libby Oettinger of Pittsboro, N.C.; his brother Kenny Oettinger and wife, Peggy, of Hurdle Mills, N.C., his mother-in-law, Patricia A. McCain, of Kinston, N.C., his brother-in-law, Paul McCain and wife Tina Dahir of Raleigh, N.C., nephew Ken Oettinger, Jr. and wife, Wendy of Charlotte. He is predeceased by his parents, Elmer R. Oettinger, Jr., and Mary Elizabeth Brown Oettinger, both of Chapel Hill, N.C., and his father-in-law, Bob McCain, of Kinston, N.C., and his extended family and friends.
The family wishes to thank The City of Oaks in Raleigh and his hospice team at Transitions Life Care: Social Worker Tara Moore, Chaplain Brent Bissett, Case Manager and Nurse Elizabeth Morris, and CNA Isabel Dominguez Orneles for their dedication, advocacy, and compassion.
The week of his service, flowers can be sent to The Friday Center, 100 Friday Center Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27517. Memorial contributions can be made in Brick’s name to the Multiple System Atrophy Coalition, 1660 International Drive, Suite 600, McLean, VA, 22102.