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Liefe of a Coach Named Masi
by Doug Krikorian, Long Beach Press-Telegram
February 18, 2007
John Masi was at the Walter Pyramid Saturday night on the bench of the
Long Beach State basketball team, seated quietly next to the man, Larry
Reynolds, who once was his assistant, observing the 49ers' match with
Hawaii through eyes that have witnessed so many such encounters across
the seasons.
Convention forbade him from being assertive, as he remained detached with
a practiced coolness, but you can be sure nothing unfolded on the floor
that he hadn't before seen in so many venues in so many cities in so many
games.
He is, as they say in his sport, a lifer, a person who has spent so many
of his 59 years in gymnasiums playing, teaching, leading, laughing, agonizing,
even for one memorable stretch serving as a foil for the Harlem Globetrotters.
"I was playing on a team called the New York Nationals, and I was
the guy that vainly tried to guard the Globetrotter dribbling master Pablo
Robertson," he relates. "It was a lot of fun. Did it one season
with the Globetrotters' international team that had Robert (Showboat)
Hall as the funny man. We went all over South America, and we played in
front of some big crowds in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Columbia,
Paraguay and many other countries. And we also went to a lot of places
in America, especially in the South."
But it would be at UC Riverside where John Masi made his most dramatic
impact in basketball, both as a two-year starter and then as a head coaching
institution for 26 years (1979-2005) during which he earned numerous honors
in guiding his teams to 11 Division II NCAA appearances and a 462-269
record.
Reynolds was Masi's top aide for 16 seasons, and now their roles are reversed
after Masi a couple of years ago was fired by the Highlanders' athletic
director, Stan Morrison, in a controversial move that many in the Riverside
area still rage about to this day.
"That's in the past, and I really don't have anything to say about
it," says Masi, who was the NCAA Division II West District Coach
of the Year seven times and whose 1988-89 Highlander team went 30-4, upset
No. 4 ranked Iowa in the championship game of the Chaminade Christmas
Classic and finished third in the NCAA Division II tournament.
"Things happen in life and you just have to move on."
John Masi took a year off from his profession, and then became reunited
this season with Reynolds, who not only was Masi's loyal assistant for
so long at Riverside but actually played his senior season at the school
under Masi when Masi joined Fred Goss' coaching staff in 1975.
It's not exactly a coincidence that Larry Reynolds is having his most
successful season with the 49ers with John Masi suddenly gracing the scene.
"I feel fortunate to have John with me," says Reynolds.
"It's like having your mentor next to you. This is a man who helped
me grow both as a player and a coach.
"And he has a wealth of knowledge. If I'm not sure about something,
he's there to help me. His experience is invaluable. I can't say enough
nice things about John Masi."
John Masi is grateful he is back involved in a sport that has been an
integral part of his existence, dating back to when he was an accurate
shooting guard at Ramona High and then at Riverside Community College
where he played for Bill Mulligan and where he once erupted for 51 points
against Citrus College.
Indeed, he wanted to coach at the collegiate level so passionately that
he took a significant pay cut - from $13,800 to $8,000 - to leave his
position as AD and basketball coach at Notre Dame High in Riverside to
become an assistant at Riverside.
"I love coaching and teaching, and that's what I'm doing again,"
he says. "Obviously, as an assistant, my role is different than before.
I don't say much during games. But if Larry asks me about something, I'll
give him my thoughts."
John Masi is a respected figure in his business, and is one of those people
who never found himself to be in the right place at the right time in
regard to career advancement.
"There were a couple of jobs I tried for, but I just didn't get hired,"
he says. "To be honest, I never tried that hard. I loved it out in
Riverside. It was my hometown.
"And we had it going good for many years. I have no regrets. I have
so many great memories."
He will be returning to his old school on March 3 when the 49ers travel
to Riverside.
"I'm sure it'll be a little emotional for me," he concedes.
Masi still maintains a home in Riverside, but has been residing most of
this season in a Belmont Shore apartment.
"After our Saturday games, I always drive back to be with my wife
in Riverside," says Masi. "Obviously, I still have strong ties
to Riverside. But I'm having a great time in Long Beach this season.
"I'm back doing what I love - coaching. There's nothing else I'd
rather be doing."
Spoken like a true basketball lifer.
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