Larry Hauser, former men’s basketball coach, died of complications from internal injuries earlier this month. The Chicago native served as the team’s fourth coach from 1997 to 2004. During his tenure, Coach Hauser developed eight All-California Collegiate Athletic Association and two NCAA All-Region student-athletes while leading the program to a second-place league finish during his first season as head coach.
Hauser graduated from Chicago State in 1971 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and earned his master’s degree in English in 1973. He was a highly successful high school basketball coach in Illinois and California prior to joining the coaching staff at Santa Clara University from 1983 to 1997, where he recruited current NBA All-Pro and two-time MVP Steve Nash prior to coming to CSU Dominguez Hills.
“I will remember Coach Hauser as a passionate and dedicated coach and educator with an extremely quick wit and strong sense of humor,” says Patrick Guillen, athletic director. “He will certainly be missed.”
A Fresno resident at the time of his death, Hauser is survived by his wife Robyn and daughter Lindsey. His memorial service, which was held last week in Fresno, brought together many of his former student-athletes and assistant coaches from Cal State Dominguez Hills, such as Max Ward, Lamel Harris, Robert Tosetti, and Brad Enright. Robyn Hauser has recently informed the Toro Athletics Department that she has started a “Larry Hauser Student Athlete Scholarship Fund” with many of the donations received in his honor; details are forthcoming.