| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1924 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | (2017-07-14)July 14, 2017 (aged 93) Sonoma County, California, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1945–1950 | San Francisco |
| Position(s) | Shooting guard /small forward |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1950–1959 | San Francisco (assistant) |
| 1959–1960 | San Francisco |
Ross Giudice (1924 – July 14, 2017) was an Americancollege basketball coach at theUniversity of San Francisco (USF). He is best remembered as the assistant coach for the Dons'1955 and1956 NCAA championship teams.
Giudice was born inDetroit and moved toSan Francisco as a child. After graduating fromGeorge Washington High School, he joined theUnited States Navy and fought inWorld War II on theUSS California.[1] Following his time in the service, he enrolled at USF and was a member of the school's basketball team. He played for the Dons from 1945 to 1950 and was a member of the school's1949 National Invitation Tournament championship team, sinking a crucialfree throw to clinch the title.[2]
WhenPhil Woolpert was hired as head coach at USF in 1950, Giudice was named his lone assistant and coach of the freshman team. In this capacity, Giudice was responsible for developing incoming freshmen and preparing them for the varsity team the following year. Two of Giudice's notable pupils we future Hall of Fame playersK. C. Jones andBill Russell. These two players served as the foundation for USF's two national championship teams. Years later, Russell would credit Giudice with playing a crucial role in his development as a player.[3]
When Woolpert resigned in 1959, Giudice took over as head coach of the Dons. However, he was not interested in the head job and after one season he left coaching for good to go into the furniture business.[3]
Giudice died on July 14, 2017, at an assisted-living facility inSonoma County, California.[1]
| Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco(WCAC)(1959–1960) | |||||||||
| 1959–60 | San Francisco | 9–16 | 5–7 | 5th | |||||
| San Francisco: | 9–16 (.360) | 5–7 (.417) | |||||||
| Total: | 9–16 (.360) | ||||||||
National champion Postseason invitational champion | |||||||||