Patriarch Of BYU’s Haws Family, Ralph Haws Dies At Age Of 80

PROVO, Utah – One of BYU basketball’s greatest families suffered a loss over the weekend. Ralph Haws, father to Marty Haws and grandpa to Tyler and TJ, passed away at the age of 80.

The elder Haws did not play for the BYU basketball program but he led a family that was some of the greatest hoopers in BYU’s history. Ralph played basketball one year in 1957 for the College of Southern Utah but never hooped at BYU. But he had a passion for the Cougar basketball program.

We send our love to TJ Haws and his family as his grandfather, Ralph Haws, passed away last night. He was regarded by many as the grandfather of BYU basketball.#BYUSN pic.twitter.com/U7iyUmZWlm

— BYU Sports Nation (@BYUSportsNation) March 2, 2020

If you ever had the chance to attend a BYU basketball practice, Ralph was likely there supporting his family. You might have also seen him give an occasional basketball hot take on his personal social media as well.

T.J. & Marty, a sweet father-son reunion!!❤️🏀 pic.twitter.com/MA0ANYyayZ

— Ralph Haws (@hawsrj) March 29, 2016

Haws’ grandson TJ, who is currently a senior on this year’s No. 15 ranked BYU squad, had a son last month with his wife Lauren and they named him after their grandpa, Tyson Ralph Haws.

Ralph leaves behind seven kids, 25 grandkids, and 14 great-grandchildren. His son Marty was one of the best ball handlers in BYU basketball history and grandson Tyler is the all-time leading scorer at the school with TJ at ninth place in the all-time scoring list.

The Haws family’s impact on BYU sports extends to football as well. Former BYU offensive lineman Jake Kuresa and quarterback/wide receiver Alex Kuresa are also grandsons to the late Ralph Haws.

But basketball was his true love and he always enjoyed teaching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren to “shoot first, shoot second, shoot third.” Somewhere in the heavens above the Grandpa of BYU hoops is definitely getting some shots up.

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.