Former Southwestern Michigan College men’s basketball coach George Leonakis died Monday morning at the age of 71 of pancreatic cancer.

Leonakis, who led Elkahart (Ind.) Central to the 1978 Final Four, also goaled at South Bend Central and LaSalle.

Leonakis, whose family runs the Roseland Fruit & Garden Center, also coached at Indiana University-South Bend.

He was diagnosed with cancer just a few weeks ago.