Former RCC Basketball Coach Dave Waxman Passes at 78

Hall of Fame coach David Waxman, Ed.D. passed away on June 21, at the age of 78 in Vista, CA. Waxman, who coached at Riverside City College, won 290 games in his career with the Tigers. Waxman went on to earn his doctoral degree, spending a number of years in managerial roles within the Riverside Community College District after exiting coaching.

Waxman, who was born in Los Angeles in 1941, attended UCLA and played for Coach John Wooden. He was a member of Wooden's first teams to reach the Final Four. He received his bachelor and master's degrees from UCLA in Physical Education. Following in Coach Wooden's footsteps, he pursued teaching and coaching as his career. Waxman said over the years how Wooden had a profound influence on him.

He took the lessons and brought along in his coaching career, first at Newport Harbor High School, then San Jose State and eventually at RCC.

He went back to school at rival USC, earning a doctoral degree in Education. He worked in administration but continued to teach physical education classes. He was inducted into the California Community Colleges Men's Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1998 along with former San Jose City coach Percy Carr. He was also enshrined in the College's Hall of Fame.

Waxman was a well-read person, enjoying books on US history and politics.

Release courtesy of CCCMBCA SID Robert Schmidt