Phil Woolpert

The basketball coach at University of San Francisco came to national attention when he led his great 1955 and 1956 teams to NCAA titles but perhaps more significant was his coaching of the '57 team, without superstars Bill Russell and Casey Jones, to the NCAA Final Four. His record was 154-78 for nine seasons, including a remarkable run of 60 straight wins. Woolpert was among the first to integrate, giving minutes to his players according to ability, not color. He died in 1987. Enshrined into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame 2001.