Girls basketball and legendary coaching family

Pete Newell, Jr. has returned to Santa Cruz High as the girls basketball coach after retiring about six years ago. The girls’ parents remember Mr. Newell as a gym teacher and the onetime coach who led the boys to a state championship in California. My generation remembers Mr. Newell’s father, Pete Newell, Sr., as the legendary coach who led the University of California to the national championship way back in 1959 and went on to coach Oscar Robinson and Jerry West on the Gold Medal winning U. S. Olympic Team in 1960.

By the way, my granddaughter is the cute girl second from the left. They won easily.