Glenn Young, the founder of the hugely successful ‘Iolani Classic basketball tournament, died Thursday after a long illness. He was 73.

A 1959 ‘Iolani graduate, Young was a teacher, department head and coach at the school for 43 years.

“The ‘Iolani Classic, that was his baby,” Raiders athletic director Wendell Look said Monday. “It was his way of elevating the level of high school basketball in Hawaii.”

In recent years, Young was employed by ‘Iolani part-time to run the tournament held annually in December.

“Not many people remember this, but he was also one of the top football officials in the state at one time,” Look said. “His contribution to Hawaii high school sports was tremendous.”

In his career, Young served as the head coach in boys basketball at ‘Iolani, leading the Raiders to their first state championship in 1983. He was also an assistant in football and girls basketball and was the interim football head coach in between Eddie Hamada and Look.

“He was one of my mentors,” Look said. “He was one of the most organized people I know. His administrative skills, I took from him.”

The ‘Iolani Classic, which began in 1983 and brings some of the top high school teams in the nation to Oahu each year, will run Dec. 10-12 (girls) and Dec. 17-22 (boys).

Services for Young have not been announced.