Coach Norman Dale was one in all Gene Hackman‘s most iconic roles — in “Hoosiers,” one in all his most memorable motion pictures — and now the late actor’s costar is talking out within the wake of the beloved 95-year-old’s demise.

TMZ Sports activities spoke to Brad Lengthy simply hours after the tragic information broke of Hackman’s passing … the place the actor shared his expertise working alongside the Academy Award winner in what was Lengthy’s first film position.

Regardless of having no expertise, Brad, who performed Buddy within the 1986 hit, says Gene was tremendous down-to-earth and “made us really feel comfy,” including he by no means made anybody “really feel self-conscious.”

Lengthy says regardless of Hackman coming in with hits like “The French Connection” and “Superman” below his belt, he utterly embraced the position of Coach Norman.

“He got here in and mentioned, ‘Hey, I need to go to some highschool practices. I wanna watch the physique language, I wanna watch the verbiage the coaches use,”’ Lengthy informed us.

“I used to be at all times actually impressed at that. Even at that stage of his performing skill, he mentioned, ‘Hey, I can study some issues right here.”’

The 62-year-old mentioned the movie modified his life, regardless of it being one of many solely instances he is been in entrance of a digicam.

The previous basketball participant mentioned Hackman, together with the opposite stars like Dennis Hopper, have been all all the way down to earth … and with out ego.

“Gene at all times gave us actually good recommendation,” Brad mentioned.

“He mentioned, ‘The artwork of performing just isn’t performing with a bit bit extra power.’ And, I believe that was actually useful going via it. It was intimidating at first, however they did not make us really feel intimidated. They at all times made us really feel welcome and Gene was at all times there to provide us recommendation if we wished it.”

Charles and Babcock additionally caught up with the movie’s director, David Anspaugh (the person behind “Rudy,” as nicely) on “TMZ Dwell” … with the completed filmmaker sharing his expertise working with Hackman.