Former Skyline College Men’s Basketball Head Coach, Pete Pontacq, was inducted to the California Community College Men’s Basketball Coaches Association (CCCMBCA) Hall of Fame on March 14.
The induction ceremony was held at the Red Lion Hotel in San Diego on the same weekend as the Men and Women’s Basketball State Championships.
“It’s great to be honored,” Pontacq said. “It was a great experience.”
Pontacq coached the men’s basketball team starting back in the 1979-1980 season and ended with his retirement after 2000-2001 season. He took a leave of absence in the 1994-1995 season to coach a pro team overseas in Taiwan.
Although Pontacq hasn’t coached the men’s basketball team since 2001, he has left a profound impact that still lives within the Skyline College community. During his coaching tenure, Pontacq led the Trojans to 27 straight winning seasons.
“He helped put the athletic program in the limelight in the state,” said Andreas Wolf, Skyline College Athletic Director and Dean of the Physical Education Department. “It (his influence) has a wonderful trickling down effect to the entire athletic program.”
Current Skyline College Men’s Basketball Head Coach, Tony Raffetto, witnessed first-hand Pontacq’s influence on the program. Under Pontacq, Raffetto worked as an assistant during the 1999-2000 season. Later, during the 2000-2001 season, the two worked together as co-head coaches. Raffetto was in San Diego for the induction ceremony to show his support.
“He taught me the system that was passed down to him,” Raffetto said. “He showed me the blueprint of the system after he made critiques to it.”
Along with Pontacq, this year’s Hall of Fame class includes Bob Schermerhorn (Head Coach of Riverside Community College) and Sam Robinson (Pasadena Community College’s all-time leading scorer).
CCCMBCA President Newton Chelette referred to Pontacq’s induction as a “no brainer.””Look at his record at Skyline College,” Chelette said. “He is definitely deserving.”
Wolf echoes a similar notion.
“When a lot of people think of Skyline College, they think of college basketball.”
Pontacq’s accomplishments and achievements are clearly Hall of Fame worthy. Most importantly though, Pontacq has touched lives.
“Pete, in my opinion, was a great basketball coach and a great person,” Chelette said.