Red Rocha

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Ephraim J. "Red" Rocha (born September 18, 1923 in Hilo, Hawaii) is a former professional basketball player. A 6'9" center from Oregon State University, he earned All-Pacific Coast Conference honors in 1945, 1946, and 1947. He was also selected as a 1947 All-American. He played in the BAA and NBA in the late 1940s and early 1950s. He represented the Baltimore Bullets in the first NBA All-Star Game in 1951, and won a championship ring 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. Following his NBA career, he became head coach for the University of Hawaii men's basketball team.

At UH, he assembled what is known today as the "Fabulous Five" during the 1970 to 1972 seasons. In 1970, the team advanced to postseason play for the first time in school history. Red also co-founded the Rainbow Classic - an eight-team collegiate men's basketball tournament, with UH hosting the tournament.

He was inducted into the State of Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1980, and into the Oregon State University Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.

[edit] External links

• Career Stats
• Rocha returns to Hawaii

Preceded by Charley Eckman

Detroit Pistons Head Coach 1957–1960

Succeeded by Dick McGuire