Sandefur: 40 years at LBSU
By Jose Corado
Daily Forty-Niner
Randy Sandefur was a two-sport athlete
and coach for Long Beach State who thrived in them.
He played volleyball from 1959-61, and
basketball two seasons, 1959-60 and 1961-62.
"It was a great combination," Sandefur
said.
"Basketball was my money sport and volleyball
was my fun sport."
He played guard under LBSU basketball Head
Coach Bill Paterson for one year and under Dick Perry for two years.
He coached the 49er basketball team one
season (1967-68), the year before Jerry Tarkanian was hired.
Back in those days, the basketball program
at LBSU was not established as a reputable basketball program.
There was not even an athletic department
only a physical education department.
The year Sandefur arrived at LBSU, the
men's basketball program earned a name for themselves and finished with
a 12-13 record.
Then Tarkanian took over and in 1970 Sandefur
was named as head coach of the men's volleyball team.
"This had always been my dream," he said.
Sandefur enjoyed his greatest success at
LBSU as head volleyball coach from 1969-75.
He led the 49er volleyball team to a pair
of NCAA runner-up finishes in 1970 and 1973, as well as third-place finishes
in 1971 and 1972.
His overall record was 35-29, with one
conference title championship in 1973, when the 49ers went 15-3.
He ranks being inducted into the 49er Athletic
Hall of Fame as one of his greatest moments in 40 years at LBSU.
"This is the best honor I've ever received,"
Sandefur said.
"The success of the volleyball program
got me the recognition."
He grew up playing volleyball on the beach
in Santa Monica.
But basketball was his love.
He went to Culver City High School and
played four different sports.
Times were different back then, he said,
and one could play a lot of sports.
Sandefur is currently a physical education
instructor at LBSU and the student teaching coordinator, who is in charge
of overseeing the credential program for the department. |