The coach who put the London Lightning on the pro basketball map has passed away.

Micheal Ray Richardson, who led the Bolts to back-to-back championships in the fledgling National Basketball League of Canada, died Tuesday at the age of 70 in Oklahoma. Few local basketball fans had ever seen a sideline presence as bombastic and entertaining as his – and he backed it up with instant success.

The Lightning won the league title in its first two years (2012 and ’13) and Richardson was named top coach in both seasons. He ran the team for a third year in 2013-14, but London bowed out in the conference semifinal round.

As good as he was as a coach, Richardson was an even better player.

Born in Lubbock, Texas, the six-foot-five guard played his college ball at Montana before being selected No.

See Full Page