CSUN Athletics Mourns the Passing of Former Coach Jerry Ball

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Athletics is mourning the passing of former men's basketball head coach Jerry Ball who passed away at 92 on Dec. 28 in his home of Yakima, Wash. A 12-year coaching veteran with the Matadors, Ball led the program as head coach from 1963-71 where he would win the team's first-ever conference championship.

Ball attended Butler University, where he played for Tony Hinkle. He served in the United States Marines during the Korean War before beginning his professional career as an educator and collegiate coach.

Ball began his tenure with CSUN, then known as San Fernando Valley State College, as an assistant coach under the program's inaugural head coach Paul Thomas. After four seasons, Ball took over the program as the head basketball coach in 1963, where he would also serve as the university's physical education instructor.

In eight seasons at the helm, Ball helped solidify the Matadors as one of the top teams in the California Collegiate Athletics Association.

Ball led the program to their first winning season in 1964-65, an 18-win campaign, and a second-place finish in the CCAA, which at the time was the Matadors' highest finish in the conference. Valley State's 18-win season would hold up as the program's most wins for the next 13 seasons.

The Matadors would win their first-ever conference title in Ball's final season in 1970-71 with a 7-1 record in CCAA play to go with a 14-12 overall record.

In an era without the three-point shot, Ball's Matadors were one of the top-scoring teams in the CCAA. Valley State set a school record in 1964-65 with a season 90.0 scoring average – a record that still stands today. The Matadors also made 915 field goals that season, standing as the most in team history for 54 seasons. In the Matador record book, the top six season scoring averages were recorded under coach Ball.

As head coach, Ball produced 17 all-conference, four all-district and three All-American honorees. Three members of the Matador Hall of Fame played for Ball, including former NBA player Paul McCracken and CSUN legends George Robnett and Mark Cooley.

After his days in Northridge, Ball continued his professional career in college administration. He served as Athletic Director at Eastern Oregon University. Ball also went on to be a Physical Education Department Chairman at Northern Illinois University and Cal State Los Angeles.

Ball also coached John Wooden's summer basketball camps and helped facilitate summer fitness and sports programs for Southern California youth annually.

Ball retired and moved to Bellingham, Wash., with his wife, Rose to be closer to his family. After his wife's passing, Ball lived in Yakima, Wash., close to his son Reed and his family.

Ball is survived by children Reed, Teresa and Mary, his grandchildren Diana, Monica, Derek and Marri, and great-granddaughter, Via.

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California State University Northridge Athletics

CSUN Athletics Mourns the Passing of Former Coach Jerry Ball

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