Friday Jun 28, 2013

Husky Men's basketball program and the Lorenzo Romar Foundation

Lorenzo Romar

Head Men's Basketball Coach University of Washington

The Huskies are enjoying their greatest stretch of success in team history under the direction of Romar. Besides 6 NCAA tournament appearances, three sweet 16’s, three Pac-10 championships, two regular season Pac-10/12 regular season championships and two NITs that included a semifinal in 2012, the numbers show Romar has entered unchartered territory for Washington basketball. In addition, Coach Romar had two of the greatest mentors any basketball coach could ask for – Marvelous Marv Harshman and the greatest basketball Coach of all-time, John Wooden.

In order to give back to the community and help those less fortunate, Coach Romar and his wife Leona founded The Lorenzo Romar Foundation in 2006. The Foundation focuses on the prevention of domestic violence and educational assistance for disadvantaged youth as well as other charitable causes. (The Lorenzo Romar Foundation is a 501(c)(3), nonprofit organization dedicated to the support and advocacy of family related issues.)

About the Speaker

Coach Romar played at the University of Washington from 1978-1980 for the legendary Marv Harshman after graduating from Cerritos (Calif.) Community College. His senior year he was the team captain and received the most inspirational award. He played 5 seasons in the NBA and then joined Athletes in Action, the athletic division of Campus Crusade for Christ, a non-denominational ministry that began in 1951. There he spent 8 years as a player and then co-coach.

Lorenzo joined UCLA in 1992 where he was the top assistant under Coach Jim Harrick for 4 years and helped coach them to the NCAA crown in 1995. He became the Head Coach at Pepperdine University in 1996 where he spent 3 years and joined St Louis University as Head Coach, where he also spent 3 years before re-joining the Huskies.