Cozell McQueen

Cozell McQueen Jr. was born on January 18, 1962, in Paris, France, where his father was stationed with the U.S. Army. He grew up in Bennettsville, South Carolina, and came of age as the kind of competitor who, by his own account, had never been nervous a day in his life — he simply went out and played. At 6'11" and barely more than 200 pounds, the lanky young center arrived at NC State University in 1981, joining a program under legendary coach Jim Valvano that would soon write one of the most improbable chapters in sports history. In the spring of 1983, Cozell helped power the "Cardiac Pack" through an extraordinary NCAA Tournament run. He forced overtime against Pepperdine with an off-balance bank shot with eight seconds remaining, hauled down a career-high 13 rebounds against Georgia in the semifinals, and then — in the national championship game against heavily favored Houston — posted 12 rebounds while holding All-American Hakeem Olajuwon in check as NC State stunned the Wolfpack faithful with a 54–52 victory. After the final buzzer, Cozell climbed to the top of the rim holding a "Pack Power" sign, a moment frozen in time. Selected 91st overall in the 1985 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks, Cozell carved out an 11-year professional career that took him across two continents. He played in the Continental Basketball League and found his footing in Europe, suiting up for clubs in France, Italy, and Spain. With Paini Napoli in the 1988–89 season, he led all of Italy's Serie A in blocked shots. He was known to teammates simply as "Co" — down-to-earth, fearless, and genuinely spirited. After retiring from professional play in 1996, Cozell settled back in Raleigh with his family and remained one of the most devoted members of the 1983 championship brotherhood. He attended every reunion, every gathering, and — even in his final illness — kept his teammates close. The team's text group, nicknamed "CNN — Cozell News Network," stayed active through his final days, with his wife and son keeping the thread alive. In 2016, he stood at the White House to see his team honored by President Barack Obama. In 2019, he was inducted into the NC State Athletic Hall of Fame alongside his championship teammates. Cozell McQueen passed away on September 5, 2026, after a brave battle with brain cancer. He was 64 years old. He is survived by his wife, Reverend MisChella McKoy McQueen, and his sons Cozell III and Chaz. He leaves behind a legacy forged in one of sports' greatest upsets and lived out through decades of loyalty, warmth, and unshakable belief.