CORVALLIS, Ore. – Ephraim J. “Red” Rocha, a Hawai`i basketball legend and former coach of the University of Hawai`i men's basketball team passed away in his home on Saturday morning after a three-year long battle with cancer. He was 86 years old.
A former collegiate All-American and NBA all-star, Rocha was born and raised in Hilo, Hawai`i and coached the UH men's basketball squad for 10 seasons (1963-73), including the most illustrious period in program history. During his decade-long tenure, UH started playing an all-collegiate schedule and advanced to the postseason for the first time in program history with the "Fabulous Five” teams that sent the entire state into basketball euphoria during the early 1970s.
The 1970-71 team advanced to the National Invitation Tournament in New York, while the '71-72 squad made it to the NCAA Tournament. Those teams combined for a 47-8 record during the two seasons led by the “Fabulous Five” of Al Davis, Jerome Freeman, Dwight Holiday, John Penebacker and future NBA first-round pick Bob Nash. Nash is currently the head coach of the Rainbow Warriors.
Rocha, who compiled a 112-136 record at UH, was also instrumental in creating the Rainbow Classic, which has become a Hawai`i sports institution. During its 46 years of existence—all but one of those years as an eight-team tournament—the Classic earned the reputation as the premier preseason basketball tournament in the country.
Before his legendary coaching days, Rocha was a standout player. He began his collegiate basketball career at UH before he transferred to Oregon State, where he played three seasons and was a three-time All-Pacific Coast Conference selection. He was also named an All-American in 1947 while leading the Beavers to the NCAA Tournament.
The 6-9 center went on to play in the BAA and NBA in the late 1940s and early '50s, suiting up for the St. Louis Bombers, Baltimore Bullets, Syracuse Nationals and the Fort Wayne Pistons. He represented the Baltimore Bullets in the first NBA All-Star Game in 1951, and won a championship with the Syracuse Nationals in 1955. He scored 6,362 points in his playing career. He later served as a coach for the Detroit Pistons and was named Sporting News Coach of the Year for 1957-58.
Rocha was inducted into the University of Hawai`i Sports Circle of Honor in 1986. He is also a member of the Hawai`i Sports Hall of Fame, the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame, the Oregon State University Sports Hall of Fame, the Pac-10 Hall of Honor and the WAC Court of Honor.
Rocha was preceded in death by Ginger, his wife of nearly 58 years. He is survived by his daughters, Kay Mosher, Cheryl Narver and Terry Bannon; nine grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and seven great great grandchildren. He is also survived by Molly Bloomfield, his partner for the last five years.
Funeral arrangements have been set for St. Mary's Catholic Church on Saturday, Feb. 20, at 10:00 a.m. in Corvallis, with a celebration of life to follow at The Club House at Adair Village at 1:00 p.m.
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