Former Contra Costa Coach Passes Away

Starting in 1969, Ed Greene coached at Contra Costa College for 19 seasons. Under his leadership, the Coments won 419 games and claimed six conference championships. Over the course of his 19 years, he never had a losing record. After stepping off the court, Greene turned his attention to an administrative role at the College. 

Former Contra Costa athletic director John Wade II told media outlets that “coach Greene was a giant of a man, an inspiration for a lot of people." Wade recalled their first encounter, more than 40 years earlier, when he was a player for a team that made it to the state championship game. “We ended up being the best team in the north, but we go to Contra Costa and I see this guy standing over there, an African American guy, and he was a college coach. I was intrigued. Coach Greene, he sat over there with a big smile on his face. He was sharp, clean. He dressed up. Had a tie on, a suit and tie. I hate to say it, we ended up losing that game.”

He is the only two-time inductee to the Athletics Hall of Fame and basketball gym is named in his honor. He was 83 at the time of his passing this week.