Hall of Fame
It did not take long for Larry Reynolds to put CSUSB men’s basketball and the athletic program on the national map.
Reynolds’ stay at CSUSB was just five seasons (1997-02) and in that time, he laid the foundation for one of the most prominent programs on the West Coast. The Coyotes reached the 1999 NCAA Elite Eight for the first time in program history in just his second year at the helm and his teams went 110-35 — a 75.9 percent winning percentage, the best of any coach in school history.
All told, Reynolds’ teams won two NCAA Regional titles (1999 and 2002), three straight CCAA titles (2000-02) and earned four consecutive NCAA Tournament berths (1999-02). His 2001-02 team boasted a 28-2 record — tied for the best record among all NCAA men’s basketball programs that season.
Reynolds and the Coyotes were a match meant to be after the Los Angeles native paid his dues as a long-time assistant coach at both UC Riverside and the University of San Francisco.
“I was so fortunate that I had an athletic director in Nancy Simpson (CSUSB Hall of Famer, Class of 2015), who had faith in me for giving me a shot at becoming a head coach,’’ said Reynolds, who won four CCAA Coach of the Year honors with the Coyotes. “Her success was unparalleled and I owe everything to her and her willingness to take a chance on me. And then of course the basic reason for this honor is that you got to have good players to become a good coach. I’m thankful for all of them. The success we had at CSUSB was due to the fact that good players bought in and played very well.’’
Reynolds left CSUSB for the head coach position at Long Beach State, where he spent five seasons. The 2016-17 season marked his seventh season as head coach at fellow CCAA-member Stanislaus State, where he coached the Warriors to their first NCAA Division II Tournament appearance in school history in 2013. And where was the regional played? Right here at CSUSB.
“When you first see the campus and you go to Coussoulis Arena, you just know kids are going to want to play in a place like that,’’ Reynolds said. “And then you meet the people and they make you feel at home; that you’re meant to feel wanted and needed and that people are looking out for you. From a school standpoint, the resources were available to excel.’’
