Hall of Fame: Glenn Bassett (Newport Harbor)

Richard Dunn

Twice in his life, Glenn Bassett planted seeds in Newport Beach,

only to have the crop uprooted both times.

First, “as a pup,” Bassett lived with his family on the Balboa

Peninsula and attended Newport Grammar School through the sixth grade.

Then his father, Clive, a pharmacist, moved the family to Santa Monica.

Next, following a stellar tennis career that included playing at

Wimbledon and earlier winning the Southern California Junior

Championship, Bassett accepting his first teaching job at Newport Harbor

High and took over as the Sailors’ boys tennis coach in 1957.

But Bassett’s homecoming to the Newport area was short-lived because

then-UCLA men’s tennis coach J.D. Morgan -- the school’s legendary former

athletic director -- enticed him to come back to UCLA as an assistant

coach.

“I never did play tennis at Newport Harbor, but it was good to come

back and be a coach and teacher at Newport Harbor, because I had such a

good feeling for that area,” Bassett said. “I would’ve stayed there, but

J.D. wanted me.”

Bassett played No. 3 singles on UCLA’s first NCAA championship team in

any sport in 1950, something he’s still very proud of today.

And, while Bassett might have an interesting Newport connection, his

blood is thick with UCLA. And when Morgan called to invite him back,

Bassett probably figured there might be a chance to succeed his mentor

one day.

In 1967, Bassett indeed replaced Morgan as the Bruins’ head men’s

tennis coach and lasted a mere 27 years at the helm, becoming the only

man in history to win an NCAA tennis team championship as a player,

assistant coach and head coach.

A member of the Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame, UCLA Athletic Hall of

Fame and Daily Pilot Sports Hall of Fame, Bassett coached three NCAA

singles champions, four NCAA doubles champions and 46 NCAA All-Americans.

Including his years as a UCLA assistant in the 1950s and ‘60s, Bassett

coached former national champions Arthur Ashe, Ian Crookendon, Billy

Martin (who replaced Bassett as head coach in 1994) and Jimmy Connors, as

well as 1992 Olympian Mark Knowles.

After leaving Newport Harbor, Bassett was a teacher and coach at

Lincoln Junior High in Santa Monica, then later at Santa Monica High (his

alma mater) for six years while serving as an assistant coach at UCLA. He

guided Santa Monica to five CIF Southern Section large-school division

titles and compiled a 143-2 record.

“That was as much a highlight as anything,” Bassett said of Santa

Monica’s five straight CIF championships from 1962 through ’66. “I

enjoyed those high school years every bit as much as UCLA.”

For Bassett, 75, his 1957 Newport Harbor squad will always remain deep

in his heart.

“Even though it was a long time ago,” Bassett said, “I remember those

bus trips we took, going to Fullerton and Anaheim and Orange, and I think

Huntington Beach was in the same (Sunset) league. I remember the great

camaraderie, and the super facility at Newport Harbor. I loved that area.

We had the Haskells and the Mangs and the Crissells on that team.”

It was Mickey Haskell and Lee Crissell, the Sailors’ No. 1 doubles

team, Mike Mang and Tim Mang (Corona del Mar’s longtime boys tennis

coach), Wayne Whitney and Oliver Quarry, Richard Schluter and John Hall,

and Dick Bridgman and Scott Thompson.

After graduating from UCLA in 1950, Bassett served 1 1/2 years in the navy, worked as an accountant for three years, went back to school to

earn his teaching credential, then was hired at Newport Harbor.

Bassett, who has authored two tennis books, plays tennis to stay in

shape and is considering competition in senior tournaments in the men’s

70s. “I feel I’m playing fairly decent,” he said.

Bassett, the latest honoree in the Daily Pilot Sports Hall of Fame,

lives in Brentwood with his wife of 40 years, Jean. They have two

children and four grandchildren.