BOULDER, Colo. -- Russell "Sox" Walseth, the winningest men's basketball coach at the University of Colorado, died Wednesday at his home after a two-year battle with cancer. The South Dakota native was 77.

Walseth also guided the CU women's basketball team from 1980 to 1983 after he was coaxed out of his retirement as a coach and ended with a 77-21 record. He is believed to be the first person to coach both the men's and women's teams at the same NCAA school.

He took over the men's program in the 1956-57 season, compiling a 261-245 record and winning three Big Eight Conference titles. Walseth retired as coach the first time in 1976, but remained an administrator with the CU athletic department.

"I could go on forever about Sox. He was the perfect example that you never fully understand the greatness and quality of some people until they have passed or it is almost too late," said Dick Tharp, CU athletic director.

Walseth was born April 6, 1926, in Aberdeen, S.D., and was an all-state basketball player while in high school at Pierre, S.D.

He attended Carroll College in Helena, Mont., and moved to Colorado in 1945. He attended CU-Boulder, where he lettered a combined six times in basketball and baseball.

Walseth was the freshman basketball coach while earning a master's degree from CU. He coached at South Dakota State College, now South Dakota State University, and at a Bakersfield, Calif., high school before returning to Boulder.

Walseth was preceded in death by his first wife of more than 40 years, Eleanor "Ellie" Hahn.

His survivors are: wife, Joan; sons, Joe and Nick; daughter Cynthia; and four grandchildren.