‘Father of the Final Four’ Tom Jernestedt dies at 75

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Tom Jernstedt, a member of the Naismith Hall of Fame for his contributions to college basketball and the NCAA Tournament, has died. He was 75.

The NCAA said Jernstedt died this weekend.

Nicknamed “Father of the Final Four,” Jernstedt has widely been credited with transforming the NCAA Tournament into the billion-dollar March Madness it has become today.

We are saddened to hear of the passing of Tom Jernstedt, @uoregon class of ’67 and @oregonfootball alum. His impact on college athletics is immeasurable, and our thoughts today are with his family. pic.twitter.com/IyE0Ko8dgt

— GoDucks (@GoDucks) September 6, 2020

A former back-up quarterback, Jernstedt worked his first Final Four in 1973 and helped push the growth of the NCAA Tournament from 25 teams to the 68, anything-can-happen bonanza held every spring.