Rusty Blair
Rusty Blair († May 18, 2025)[1] was an American 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.[2]
College career
[edit]Blair received recruiting offers from numerous NCAA Division I colleges, ultimately electing to play for Oregon.[3] 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.[4][5][6]
Professional career
[edit]Blair was selected by the Memphis Sounds (then the Memphis Pros) in the 1972 ABA Draft,[7] picked in the fifth round.[8]
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,[9] 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,[10] 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.[11] Blair announced his retirement following the 2025 season, after leading the Cougars to the CCCAA regional playoffs.[12] With Cuesta, he won eleven championship titles in the Western State Conference. Blair received Western State Conference Coach of the Year honors in 1997, 1998, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2019.[13]
He passed away on May 18, 2025 at age 74.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Jimenez, Joslen (2025-05-22). "Longtime Cuesta basketball coach dies, leaving lasting legacy on Central Coast". The Tribune. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
- ^ 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. (1975). All the Moves: A History of College Basketball. Harper & Row. 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.
- ^ Foreman, Dylan (February 26, 2025). "Rusty Blair to retire after 33 years with Cuesta Men's Basketball". KSBY TV.
- ^ "Rusty Blair". Cuesta College. Retrieved 2025-11-15.