PIONEER – BASKETBALL

Ephraim J. “Red” Rocha began his basketball career with the Rainbows on the 1940-41 team. He transferred to Oregon State and was awarded three consecutive All-Pacific Coast first team honors. From 1946-47 Rocha was elected to the Helms Foundation All-America Team.

Coach Rocha played professional basketball for the St. Louis Bombers for three years, the Baltimore Bullets for a year and the Syracuse Nationals for four years. He was named to the Rookie All-Star Team in 1947 and played in two All-Star Games. Rocha was a member of the Syracuse Nationals when they were crowned NBA World Champions.

Later, he became the head coach for the Detroit Pistons and was named Sporting New Coach of the Year from 1957-58.

Coach Rocha was named head coach for the University of Hawai’i Rainbows in 1963. He is best known as the coach of the UH “Fabulous Five” team of the early 1970s. His overall record at UH was 111-134.

BORN 1923