R.I.P. Pete Newell.

11.17.2008 | 11:20 pm | Go Bears!, Great Beards in History

In 1959, Pete Newell coached the California Golden Bears to their only NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship, beating the Jerry West-led West Virginia squad in the final. While beating “the logo” and taking home the big trophy is generally regarded as his greatest achievement around Berkeley, there was much more to the man than this “one shining moment.”

After retiring from coaching, he spent some thirty-plus years teaching footwork and technique to a cavalcade of big men that reads like a roster of who’s who in the painted area over the last three decades of NBA hoops. Bill Walton. Hakeem Olajuwon. Shaquille O’Neal. In all, more than 200 past and current NBA players attended at least one of Newell’s camps. But perhaps the most astounding fact about Pete was the fact that he refused to accept any money from any of the attendees, many of whom would make many millions of dollars under his tutelage. Of this decision, he would say little publicly. But what he did say was very telling.

“I owe it to the game. I can never repay what the game has given me.”

This nobility of sentiment, however, should not be misconstrued as an understatement of his influence on the game we all love. None other than Bobby Knight had this to say about Pete in an interview last year.

“He was as good as anybody who’s ever coached this game.”

From a long-suffering Cal alumni, I can only offer this humble “thank you” to Mr. Newell. We may only have one banner in the rafters from the biggest stage, but we have the legacy of a true basketball giant, one who selflessly served the game of basketball and those who play it until his final days. We are all richer for his doing so. Pete Newell was 93 years old at his passing. I will leave you with a fitting eulogy from none other than Don Nelson. “This is obviously a very sad day for the game of basketball, whether you are associated with the NBA, college or high school ranks. I’ve known Pete for over 50 years and have a tremendous amount of respect for the man and his many accomplishments. Pete was a great coach and a great man who had the ability to relate to players and people on every level. A countless number of coaches and players benefited from Pete’s tutelage over the years – including those who attended his specialized camps each summer – and will be indebted to him for the expertise and wisdom that he provided. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.”

Amen.

Daniel Turman