Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Former Central Michigan star Dan Roundfield drowns off coast of Aruba

Dan Roundfield

Former Central Michigan star and NBA All-Star Dan Roundfield has died, the school acknowledged in a release mourning his loss Tuesday.

According to reports, the 59-year-old Roundfield entered waters off the coast of Aruba to help his wife, who had been caught in a rough current. He was able to usher her to safety, but was swept back out to sea.

His body was found approximately 90 minutes later by a search and rescue team, trapped by underwater rocks.

“This is a tragic loss for the Central Michigan family,” Central Michigan Director of Athletics Dave Heeke said in a statement. “Dan was not only one of our all-time great basketball players but one of our all-time greatest athletes. Our sympathies go out to Dan’s family, all his close friends and those that grew to love him throughout our basketball program.”

Roundfield played for CMU from 1972-75, ending his career as the school’s all-time leading rebounder. He won the MAC Player of the Year award in 1975 and led the Chippewas to the NCAA tournament that same year.

He signed with the Indiana Pacers, then members of the ABA, in 1975 and went on to a 12-year career in which he averaged 14.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game.

Photo Credit: Central Michigan

Daniel Martin is a writer and editor at JohnnyJungle.com, covering St. John’s. You can find him on Twitter:@DanielJMartin_