Denny Fitzpatrick
Encyclopedia
Denny Fitzpatrick is a retired American basketball player. He was Most Valuable Player
and leading scorer for the 1959 NCAA champion
California Golden Bears.
Fitzpatrick was a 6'0" multi-sport star for Newport Harbor High School
in Orange County, California
. He played first at Orange Coast junior college
, then came to the University of California, Berkeley
to play for coach Pete Newell
in 1958. As a senior in the 1958–59 season, Fitzpatrick had a big season, leading the Bears in scoring at 13.3 points per game and garnering first team all Pacific Coast Conference (now the Pacific-12 Conference) honors. In the 1959 NCAA tournament
, Fitzpatrick continued to pace the Bears. He scored 20 points in the NCAA final as Cal defeated West Virginia
and All-American
Jerry West
in the tournament final. Fitzpatrick was named to the All-Final Four team and was awarded team MVP honors for the season.
Following the close of his college career, Fitzpatrick continued to play basketball in the Amateur Athletic Union
(AAU) and briefly turned to coaching, first at St. John Vianney High School
, then at Hancock College. He also was an avid volleyball
player and was a member of the 1961 AAU national champion Hollywood YMCA squad. Soon, he turned to real estate and built a successful real estate firm called PacTen Partners.
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
and leading scorer for the 1959 NCAA champion
1959 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1959 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 23 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball in the United States. It began on March 7, 1959, and ended with the championship game on March 21 in Louisville,...
California Golden Bears.
Fitzpatrick was a 6'0" multi-sport star for Newport Harbor High School
Newport Harbor High School
Newport Harbor High School is a public high school in Newport Beach, in Orange County, California, in the United States. It is part of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District.-History:...
in Orange County, California
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
. He played first at Orange Coast junior college
Orange Coast College
Orange Coast College is a community college in Orange County, California. It was founded in 1947, with its first classes opening in the fall of 1948. It provides two-year associate of art and science degrees, certificates of achievement, and lower-division classes transferable to other colleges...
, then came to the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
to play for coach Pete Newell
Pete Newell
Peter Francis Newell was an American college men's basketball coach and basketball instructional coach. He coached for 15 years at the University of San Francisco, Michigan State University and the University of California, Berkeley, compiling an overall record of 234 wins and 123 losses...
in 1958. As a senior in the 1958–59 season, Fitzpatrick had a big season, leading the Bears in scoring at 13.3 points per game and garnering first team all Pacific Coast Conference (now the Pacific-12 Conference) honors. In the 1959 NCAA tournament
1959 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1959 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 23 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball in the United States. It began on March 7, 1959, and ended with the championship game on March 21 in Louisville,...
, Fitzpatrick continued to pace the Bears. He scored 20 points in the NCAA final as Cal defeated West Virginia
West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball
The West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team represents West Virginia University in NCAA Division I college basketball competition. It is a member of the Big East Conference. West Virginia most recently reached the Final Four of the 2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, led by...
and All-American
NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
The NCAA Men's Basketball All-American teams are honorary teams made up of those NCAA basketball players voted the best in the country by a variety of organizations.-History:...
Jerry West
Jerry West
Jerry Alan West is a retired American basketball player who played his entire professional career for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . His nicknames include "Mr...
in the tournament final. Fitzpatrick was named to the All-Final Four team and was awarded team MVP honors for the season.
Following the close of his college career, Fitzpatrick continued to play basketball in the Amateur Athletic Union
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
(AAU) and briefly turned to coaching, first at St. John Vianney High School
Daniel Murphy High School
Daniel Murphy High School was a Roman Catholic all-boys high school located in Los Angeles, California. It was located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles.-History:...
, then at Hancock College. He also was an avid volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
player and was a member of the 1961 AAU national champion Hollywood YMCA squad. Soon, he turned to real estate and built a successful real estate firm called PacTen Partners.