Ron Rhoads, 66; All-American golfer at USC, later became coach

Ron Rhoads, 66, an All-American golfer at USC in the 1960s who returned to coach the Trojans in the ‘80s, died April 12 of heart failure at his Malibou Lake home near Agoura, his daughter Carolee Leighton said.

In 1963, Rhoads was co-captain of the USC golf team with Dave Stockton, and both were All-Americans that year.

Rhoads coached the USC golf team from 1980 to 1983, leading the Trojans to the Pacific 10 Conference title in his first season.

After playing some PGA Tour events after college, he was named head golf pro at Sahalee Country Club near Seattle.

He held the same position at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades for 15 years, starting in 1973. He later moved on to be the first head pro at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks when it opened in 1989 and at North Ranch Country Club in Westlake Village from 1993 to 1995.

Rhoads was born March 4, 1941, in Santa Monica and grew up in Beverly Hills in a golf-loving family. His brother Rick was an All-American golfer at USC in 1965 and 1966 and went on to play on the PGA Tour and work as the head golf pro at San Francisco Country Club.