The Beach recalls past

By Wes Woods, On Line Forty-Niner

Wednesday, November 11, 1998

Although Long Beach State is not considered an athletic powerhouse, the university has managed to hold its own through the years.

Many greats have passed through the Beach. These include: men's water polo coach Ken Bartlett in the 1960s, men's basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian in the 1970s, women's basketball coach Joan Bonvicini in the 1980s and professional golfer Mark O'Meara in the 1980s.

In 1949 the young Long Beach State squad tried its hardest, but still ended up failing in men's basketball, swimming, golfing, track and tennis.

The inaugural decade of the 1950s to the 1960s, however, included many triumphs for the new 49ers.

Bartlett, an Olympic coach, won eight consecutive California Collegiate Athletic Association and National Collegiate Athletic Association titles. The gymnastics squad won the CCAA title in 1959 and would go on to win three consecutive titles.

Also in the 1960s, CSULB would continue to rise upward in the pursuit of collegiate excellence with a host of cross country and track titles led by the guidance of Dr. Jack Rose.

From the years 1968 to 1973, Tarkanian "elevated CSULB's (basketball) program from obscurity into national prominence," said a 35-year retrospective of the university. Also, in 1970 the football team made the Pasadena Bowl tying 24-24, with future NFL players Terry Metcalf and Herb Lusk.

In the 1980s, women's basketball rose to the forefront under the tutelage of head coach Joan Bonvicini. Leading the university to the NCAA Final Four several times, she coached greats such as Dana Wilkerson, Penny Toler and Cindy Brown, who scored a then NCAA record 60 points in one game.

In the 1990s, the football team was led by legendary coach George Allen, until his untimely death that year. The football team, which included future Denver Bronco running back Terrell Davis, was disbanded in 1992 due to lack of funds and Title IX. Most recently, women's volleyball has dominated the Big West, led by senior setter Misty May.