One man is known for being the architect of the famed triangle offense, and he coached five seasons at Long Beach State.
Legendary coach Tex Winter died on Wednesday evening at age 96. His is survived by his wife, Nancy, his sons Chris, Brian, and Russ, and three grandchildren. Winter coached the LBSU men’s basketball team from 1978-83, and went on to win nine NBA Championships as an assistant coach.
“He’s in the long line of coaches that not only were great here at Long Beach State, but went on to do great things,” current Long Beach State head coach Dan Monson said in an official university release. “What he did with the Chicago Bulls and revolutionizing the NBA was special. Tex said this was one of his favorite places he ever coached at and I said, ‘Me too.’”
Winter also coached at Marquette (1951) and Kansas State (1953-68) before working with Phil Jackson and the Los Angeles Lakers. He is a member of the College Basketball Hall of Fame, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and received the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award from the NBA Coaches Association.
Kobe Bryant on X (formerly Twitter): “My mentor. I sat with Tex & watched every minute of every game during our 1st season together. He taught me how to study every detail. He was a bball genius in every sense of the word. I’ll miss him deeply. Thank you Tex. I wouldn’t be where I am today without you. Rest In Peace. pic.twitter.com/qgjPgP7K95 / X”
My mentor. I sat with Tex & watched every minute of every game during our 1st season together. He taught me how to study every detail. He was a bball genius in every sense of the word. I’ll miss him deeply. Thank you Tex. I wouldn’t be where I am today without you.
Winter was born in Texas but attend Huntington Park High School, Compton College and Oregon State. He served in the United States Navy as a pilot during World War II, and then completed for the USC basketball and track teams as an All-American pole vaulter.
(Photo courtesy LBSU Athletics)
