Clark Kellogg

David Benner

Dave Twardzik summed it up best. "If you didn't like George Irvine, something was wrong with you," said Twardzik, one of George's best friends who worked with him from 1986-89 with the Pacers. "The word great is thrown around too frequently, but in George's case, it fits. He was just a great guy."

Irvine, a former Pacers' head coach from 1984-86 and on an interim basis in 1988, passed away Monday night at the age of 69. While with the Pacers, he also served as an assistant coach and an assistant to then General Manager/President Donnie Walsh. Later in his career, Irvine would coach the Detroit Pistons.

And Walsh is well aware of George's impact on him. When Irvine was named Pacers' head coach in 1984, he hired Walsh to be an assistant. In 1986, Walsh became general manager and, as they say, the rest is history.

"George Irvine brought me to Indiana and in my mind he was the beginning of NBA basketball with the Pacers in our building process for the years to come," said Walsh. "He had a great basketball mind, which allowed him to function at a high level as a coach, administrator and purveyor of talent. George was a once-in-a-lifetime friend and one of the best men in my life."

When Irvine was head coach, his teams struggled to a .293 winning percentage. But the fact, according to another team executive at the time, was "You've got a good coach, you've got good guys, unfortunately you have a lot of young players."

One of those young players was a promising forward out of Ohio State, Clark Kellogg. When Irvine became the head coach, Clark's career was coming to an end due to a knee injury.

"I enjoyed him from the standpoint that he was knowledgeable and fun to be around," said Kellogg. "He had a good sense of humor, he was a good teacher, but I enjoyed his personality. I was young, cutting my teeth in the NBA and I never got a chance to be healthy and play for him at my best because of my knee. He was quick with a story, and he had plenty of them, and he was quick with a laugh."

Another young player was Jerry Sichting. He and George found common ground when Irvine was an assistant coach.

"George was an assistant coach when I was a rookie and he gave me a lot of insight," said Sichting. "There weren't four, five assistants like now, so he was basically the only guy. He let me know what to expect. The game was different back then and you had to make your mark as a rookie. He had gone through a lot of the same things as a player in the ABA and took the time to relate those things to me. He loved basketball, he was a very knowledgable coach. We weren't great back then, but he stayed positive. He knew we weren't going to win the NBA championship, so he tried to develop us, he looked at himself as a teacher, made it fun and kept it fun."

"I thoroughly enjoyed him," said David Craig, the Pacers' long-time trainer. "George cared about all  the people who worked with him. He really cared about his players. We struggled a lot those years from a win-loss situation but he always stayed upbeat, kept his sense of humor and had consideration for all those involved. He was a very strong influence on my life. He was just a down to earth, great guy to be around."

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Remembering George Irvine

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After thousands of votes from Pacers fans around the world, the final results are in. For the 1980s starting lineup, fans used PacersVote.com to select Chuck Person, Reggie Miller, Detlef Schrempf, Wayman Tisdale, and Clark Kellogg.

Person, who is being honored with his very own bobblehead on Saturday night, is the only Pacers player to ever win the Rookie of the Year award. During his rookie season in 1986-87, Person helped the Pacers grab their first-ever win in the NBA postseason.

Miller, whose Pacers career stretches from 1987-88 to 2004-05, is the franchise's all-time leading scorer. During the 1989-90 season, Miller averaged a career-best 24.6 points per game while sinking 40 percent of his 3-point shots.

Tisdale was the Pacers' first-round draft choice in 1985, picked with the second overall pick. In his four seasons with the team, Tisdale averaged 15.2 points and 7.2 rebounds. After basketball, Tisdale released a number of jazz albums. He passed away after a long battle with cancer in May of 2009.

Detlef Schrempf was traded to the Pacers from the Dallas Mavericks in 1989, quickly becoming a do-everything player for Indiana. In his five seasons with the team, Schrempf averaged 17 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. Over the course of four seasons, Schrempf suited up for 15 Pacers playoff games.

Kellogg, while not winning Rookie of the Year, put up season that still stands as the high-water mark for Pacers rookies. In 1982-83, after being drafted out of Ohio State, Kellogg finished the year averaging 20.1 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. Unfortunately, chronic knee injuries shortened Kellogg's career. The power forward finished his career in 1986-87 having played in 260 NBA games.

Voting for the starting five of the 1990s is now open. Make sure to make your voice heard on PacersVote.com »

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Fans Select Their 1980s Starting Five

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In NBA history, only 20 players have ever had a rookie season in which they averaged 20 or more points and 10 or more rebounds per game. Of those 20, 14 are in the Hall of Fame. One of them, Blake Griffin, is still active. Another, Tim Duncan, won't have to wait long until he's inducted.

That leaves just four players with that caliber of a rookie season who haven't yet been enshrined in Springfield, Mass.: Terry Cummings, Elton Brand, Sidney Wicks, and a man who did it with the Pacers, Clark Kellogg.

Because chronic knee issues robbed Kellogg of his career's longevity — he played just five NBA seasons (260 games) — Kellogg never got a chance to build a serious case for the Hall of Fame.

But it doesn't take away an accolade that Kellogg might never relinquish: his 1982-83 season was the best any Pacers rookie has ever had.

In 1982, Kellogg fell to a Pacers team in the midst of a transitional period with the eighth pick in the draft. The accolades of the early 1970s ABA teams were fading into history, and the team was looking to establish itself as a power in the NBA.

Seeking to find a winning formula, Kellogg was paired with his front court mate from Ohio State, Herb Williams.

Although Kellogg's stats were eye-popping, the team struggled mightily under head coach Jack McKinney, finishing with a record of 20-62.

But during the often dreary season, Kellogg lit up the lights of possibility, posting obscene box scores. In game 76 against the 76ers, Kellogg finished with 36 points and 19 rebounds. In a December game, he racked up 33 points and 13 rebounds versus the Bulls.

He finished the season with averages of 20.1 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. Coincidently, he lost Rookie of the Year honors to one of the other four 20pt-10reb rookies who didn't make the Hall of Fame, Terry Cummings of the San Diego Clippers.

Although Kellogg wasn't able to sustain his lofty rookie statistics for his career, his legacy as the high-water mark for Pacers rookies is still going strong.

After basketball, Kellogg has worked as a sports broadcaster for CBS and was the Pacers' vice president of player relations from 2010-2014.

In September, Kellogg — along with Tamika Catchings — was awarded the Indiana Sports Corp 2016 Pathfinder Award, which honors individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to improving the lives of America's youth.

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In 1982, Clark Kellogg Set the High-Water Mark for Pacers Rookies

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Indiana Sports Corp will present the 2016 Pathfinder Award to Indiana Fever's Tamika Catchings and CBS Sports studio analyst Clark Kellogg. The Pathfinder Award, presented annually since 1988 by Indiana Sports Corp, honors individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to improving the lives of America's youth. These champions for America's youth will be recognized at the Indiana Roof Ballroom during a luncheon on Friday, November 4, 2016.

"We are grateful to honor Tamika and Clark for their commitment to serving others and creating impact in the community," said Ryan Vaughn, Indiana Sports Corp President. "Their dedication and work on behalf of numerous organizations, particularly those that benefit youth, make them the perfect choice to join our distinguished list of Pathfinder Award recipients."

Just returning from the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Catchings joins Teresa Edwards and Lisa Leslie as the only American basketball players, male or female, to earn four (4) Olympic gold medals.

At the conclusion of the 2016 season, her final one, Catchings will have completed 16 seasons in the WNBA, which is the most of any WNBA player with the same franchise. Catchings will retire having been named Defensive Player of the Year five times, a nine-time WNBA All-Star and All-WNBA eleven times.

GALLERY: Kellogg's Pacers Career in Photos »

In 2015 she was also presented the ESPN Humanitarian Award. In 2004, Catchings's founded Catch the Stars, a community service foundation, which provides goal-setting programs that promote literacy, fitness and mentoring for youth.

Clark Kellogg has served as both a game and studio analyst for CBS Sports' coverage of the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championships for over two decades. Kellogg has been with CBS since 1993 and has also done television commentating for the Indiana Pacers, Cleveland State University, the Big East Television Network, and ESPN. Kellogg is commonly known for his "Clark-isms" and catch phrases during games.

Kellogg is involved with many different charities and service organizations including Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the United Way, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio and American Red Cross, where he is a longtime routine blood donor. He has served as a Big Brother for nine years with the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization.

He is a former first-round draft pick of the Pacers (1982, eighth selection overall) and played five seasons with the team. Due to chronic knee problems, he retired with a career average of 18.9 points and 9.6 rebound per game. He was also selected to the 1983 NBA All-Rookie Team.

Kellogg is a native of Cleveland, Ohio, and attended The Ohio State University where he was named Big Ten Conference MVP in 1982. He received his degree in 1996 from Ohio State, and in 2010, was appointed to the university's board of trustees. He and his wife Rosie are parents to Alex, Nick, and Talisa.

This is the 29th year for the annual Indiana Sports Corp Pathfinder Awards, presented this year by Ice Miller.

Over the years, the Pathfinder Awards have honored a tremendous list of recipients including Dr. Condoleezza Rice, Jeff and Karen Saturday, John Wooden, Larry Bird, Governor Mitch Daniels, Tony Dungy, Peyton Manning, Jack and Barbara Nicklaus, Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson, and Dick Vitale, among others.

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Kellogg and Catchings Receive Indiana Sports Corp's Pathfinder Award

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The 10 Best Single Seasons in Pacers History

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Pacers First Round Draft History

INDIANAPOLIS – Former Indiana Pacers player, broadcaster and current team executive Clark Kellogg has announced that he is leaving the Pacers, effective immediately.

Kellogg, a Big Ten MVP at Ohio State University who was the Pacers’ First Round draft choice in 1982, is departing from his current post as Vice President of Player Relations. After injuries cut his playing career short, Kellogg served as a radio and TV analyst for the Pacers while also blossoming into an analyst and commentator for CBS Sports, focusing on college basketball, the NCAA men’s basketball tournament and the Final Four.

“Since 1982, I've enjoyed some form of a working relationship with the Indiana Pacers: player, radio and TV broadcaster, and VP of Player Relations,” Kellogg said. “I'm eternally thankful for each opportunity the Simon family and this organization have given me to contribute to its work. It's been a blessed association in every way for me and my family.

“But times and seasons change. And my time has come to move on from my role as VP of Player Relations. I do so with no regrets, while looking forward to continuing my work as a college basketball game and studio analyst with CBS. Always a Pacer.”

“We are glad we had the opportunity to have Clark as part of our team,” said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird. “His interaction with our players was great and he brought a lot to the table. Anyone who has been around Clark will say you can’t find a better person. We will miss him and wish him the best.”

Added PS&E President Jim Morris, “Clark has long represented this franchise with the utmost in class, dignity and character. He will always be a member of our PS&E family and we hope his CBS duties continue to bring him to Indianapolis often.”

Kellogg has split time between his home in Columbus, Ohio and Indianapolis during his tenure. He and wife Rosy have three children, Talisa, Alex and Nicholas. Talisa will be married this Saturday.

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Kellogg to Leave Pacers

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Kellogg, a star collegiate performer at Ohio State who was drafted by the Pacers, got off to a great start Tuesday night with his “March Madness” coverage. It’s not every night you show up in Ohio and talk to the most powerful man in the free world.

Clark was in Dayton Tuesday night for the first two games of the 2012 NCAA men’s basketball tournament.  While there he did a rather unique on court interview with an old friend of his and a new friend of his.

Kellogg caught up with President Barack Obama and the President’s guest for the evening, English Prime Minister David Cameron, before the games.  Kellogg has been to the White House where he has actually shot “hoops” with the President.

Click here to watch the interview in its entirety courtesy of CBS Sports.