Rusty Blair
Rusty Blair is an American former professional basketball player and coach.
Early life[edit]
Blair attended San Luis Obispo High School, where he earned the California Interscholastic Federation's Southern Section Division 2A Player of the Year award as a senior in 1967–68.[1]
College career[edit]
Blair received recruiting offers from numerous NCAA Division I colleges, ultimately electing to play for Oregon.[2] In February 1970, he gained notoriety for scoring 19 points to help lead the Ducks to a 78–65 upset of then-No. 1-ranked UCLA.[3][4][5]
Professional career[edit]
Blair was selected by the Memphis Sounds (then the Memphis Pros) in the 1972 ABA Draft,[6] picked in the fifth round.[7]
Standing 6-foot-8, he instead played 11 seasons in Europe (10 in FIBA and one in the World Basketball League), averaging 27.2 points and 10.4 rebounds during his career,[8] much of which was spent with the then-Coveco and Kaypro club (wearing number 10 for the team now known as Basketball Stars Weert).
Coaching[edit]
Blair became a professional head coach in April 1988, taking over BSW Miniware Weert in the Holland Professional Basketball League,[9] and served as the coach for the South Team in the 1989 DBL All-Star Gala held in Amsterdam. He was named head coach at Cuesta College in April 1992.[10]
References[edit]
- ^ Burdick, Eric (January 26, 1994). "Blair, Goodrich get the votes to get into SLO Hall of Fame". San Luis Obispo Telegram-Tribune. pp. C-2.
- ^ Rogoway, Rick (February 13, 1969). "California center takes charge: 6-8 freshman on the way up". Oregon Daily Emerald. p. 4.
- ^ "The Week". Sports Illustrated. March 2, 1970. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
- ^ Goldaper, Sam (February 23, 1970). "U.C.L.A. Receives Annual Lesson in How to Lose". New York Times.
- ^ Isaacs, Neil D. (1984). All the Moves: A History of College Basketball. Harper & Row. p. 296. ISBN 978-0-06-091116-4.
- ^ Oregon Men's Basketball 2022-23 Record Book. University of Oregon Athletics. 2022. p. 36.
- ^ "The ABA's Secret Draft List". San Francisco Chronicle. April 13, 1972. p. 53.
- ^ Wilson, Jaelin (November 3, 2016). "Coach Blair brings European flair to Cuesta". The Cuestonian.
- ^ "Blair named head coach in Holland". San Luis Obispo Telegram-Tribune. April 15, 1988. pp. 1B.
- ^ Wallner, Peter J. (April 22, 1992). "Blair to lead Cuesta basketball program". San Luis Obispo Telegram-Tribune. pp. B-1.