Hall of Fame
Stanich, George
George Stanich
- Induction:
- 1985
George Stanich was one of the most versatile athletes in UCLA history, a star in track and field, basketball and baseball in the 1940s. John Wooden once said of Stanich: "He may not be as great a scorer as some All-America basketball players, but he could run any of them into the ground. I'll take him over any of them because of his great qualities as a team player and driver of the fast-break attack." In 1948, Stanich tied for first in the final Olympic high jumping trials, then earned a bronze medal in the Olympic Games.
He signed a pro baseball contract with the Oakland Oaks in 1950, forgoing his senior year in baseball and track. He retired from pro baseball in 1953, becoming the Torrance High School baseball and football coach for one year (1955). He then moved on to El Camino Community College for 37 years (1956-1992), teaching physical education classses as well as coaching the basketball team for the first 20 years. While head basketball coach, Stanich coached future UCLA Hall of Famer Keith Erickson. He took a one-year break to coach a Yugoslavian basketball team (1971), which won the Yugoslavian title that year. His son, John Stanich, was a member of the UCLA men's track and field teams that won NCAA titles in both 1987 and 1988.
He has been inducted into the Northern California Athletic Hall of Fame (1975), the UCLA Baseball Hall of Fame (1990), the El Camino College Hall of Fame (1993), the Sacramento City College Hall of Fame (1998), and the California Community College Sports Hall of Fame (1999). Stanich was inducted into the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame in 1985.
He signed a pro baseball contract with the Oakland Oaks in 1950, forgoing his senior year in baseball and track. He retired from pro baseball in 1953, becoming the Torrance High School baseball and football coach for one year (1955). He then moved on to El Camino Community College for 37 years (1956-1992), teaching physical education classses as well as coaching the basketball team for the first 20 years. While head basketball coach, Stanich coached future UCLA Hall of Famer Keith Erickson. He took a one-year break to coach a Yugoslavian basketball team (1971), which won the Yugoslavian title that year. His son, John Stanich, was a member of the UCLA men's track and field teams that won NCAA titles in both 1987 and 1988.
He has been inducted into the Northern California Athletic Hall of Fame (1975), the UCLA Baseball Hall of Fame (1990), the El Camino College Hall of Fame (1993), the Sacramento City College Hall of Fame (1998), and the California Community College Sports Hall of Fame (1999). Stanich was inducted into the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame in 1985.
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