Wednesday, June 18, 1997
What ever happened to Red Rocha? Rocha enjoying
Oregon retirementThe former University of Hawaii basketball coach and his wife, Ginger, moved to Corvallis, Ore., after he retired in 1987.
"We wanted to live on the mainland to be closer to our family and we chose Corvallis because we knew a lot of people here," said Rocha, a Hilo native who graduated from Oregon State University in Corvallis.
"I'm completely retired and playing a lot of golf although I'm not getting better at it," quipped Rocha, who will be in Hawaii for the Waialua Boat Club's annual July 4th celebration. "We're looking forward to eating local food, which we miss very much."
Following a nine-year NBA playing career, which included a championship season for Syracuse in 1955, Rocha coached the Detroit Pistons and later the Hawaii Chiefs of the old American Basketball Association before coming to the Manoa campus.
Rocha succeeded Al Saake as UH basketball coach and after seven losing seasons in eight years, he struck gold in the 1970-71 season with the "Fabulous Five" -- Dwight Holiday, Jerome "Hook" Freeman, Al Davis, Bob Nash and John Penebacker.
Rocha coached through the 1972-73 season but worked for the university until 1987.
Friends can write to the Rochas at 3045 NW Roosevelt Drive, Corvallis, Ore., 97330.
By Rod Ohira, Star-Bulletin