LBCC mourns the loss of former basketball coach Bill Fraser

Former Long Beach City College men's basketball coach Bill Fraser passed away on Friday, April 18. Fraser served as head coach of the Vikings from 1973-90 and at the time of his retirement was the school's all-time winningest coach in program history.

Fraser led the Vikings to a 1976 state championship as well as six trips to the state final four. Under his direction, LBCC qualified for the playoffs 13 times. He was twice named the Metropolitan Conference Coach of the Year for all sports.

In 2003, Fraser was elected into the second class of the LBCC Hall of Champions along with other Long Beach icons as Dee Andrews, Ron Crawford, Monte Nitzkowski, and Greg Townsend. He is also a member of the  California Community College Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

"Bill was an extraordinary man and an extraordinary coach," said Gary Anderson, who served as an assistant coach to Fraser before taking over the program following his retirement. "We would all be so lucky to have a life like his."

Prior to LBCC, Fraser also served as boy's basketball head coach at Long Beach Wilson High School where he is also a member of its athletic hall of fame.

A scholarship in his name has been established by the Long Beach City College Foundation. For information on donating to the scholarship, please contact Ginny Baxter at (562) 938-4634.