CHICAGO — Ray Meyer, the grandfatherly basketball coach whose 42-year tenure at DePaul stretched from George Mikan to Mark Aguirre, died Friday, the school said. Meyers, who had been in faling health was 92.

His death was confirmed by athletic director Jean Lenti Ponsetto.

Meyer twice took the Blue Demons to the NCAA Final Four, helped develop Mikan — who would eventually become basketball's first dominating big man — and coached DePaul to the 1945 NIT title.

Meyer had an eye for talent with players like Aguirre, Terry Cummings, Dallas Comegys and Dave Corzine, who parlayed their college experience into pro careers.

But no player he coached had as much of an impact on the game as Mikan, who died in June 2005.