Royce Youree
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- Previous College:
- West Hills College-Coalinga
Bio
Seemingly everything that Royce Youree touched during his remarkable career as a multi-sport student-athlete and coach turned to gold, first as a football, basketball and baseball letterwinner at West Hills College Coalinga, later as a basketball star at Arizona State, and finally, as one of the most accomplished coaches in Arizona history.
West Hills provided the launching pad for his remarkable career in 1954-55, beginning with his lone season on the Falcons’ basketball team where he earned all-conference, all-state and All-America honors. Youree averaged 28.6 ppg. that season – second-best in the country – and helped highlight his year with a 58-point barrage against Cuesta College, setting a school record that still stands.
That one season was just a small taste of the greatness ahead. He took his talents to Arizona State, where he was a three-year starter, set a school record for made three throws (362) and helped ASU earn its first bid to the NCAA Tournament. He twice earned All-Border Conference recognition.
Youree had a brief professional baseball career before turning to the start of an impressive high school basketball coaching tenure that saw him post a 301-56 overall record, win five state championships during a 13-year period, and ultimately be named “Coach of the Century” by The Arizona Republic. Youree also enjoyed a very successful career as co-coach at Mesa Community College (126-37) and led the United States to the Junior Men’s World Championship in 1979.
He is a member of five Halls of Fame as well as the prestigious Pac-10 Hall of Honor.