RENO, Nev. – Nevada Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, John Legarza, has passed away at the age of 86.
 
Legarza, a native of Winnemucca, passed away peacefully in Reno this past Sunday, April 7. He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Gretchen; children, Kim (Scott) Nader, Mike (Kim) Legarza, Sherry (Lowell) Black, and Matt (Georgina) Legarza. Step-children, Mills (Christina) Landon, and Megan (Mike) Pagni; grandchildren, Vincent, Alex, and Isabella Legarza, Callie and Molly Black, Jacquelyn Nader, Lucas and Sophia Landon, and Kate Pagni.
 
Legarza was a four-year basketball letterman, beginning his career at Nevada in 1952. He interrupted his education to serve in the U.S. Army, but returned as basketball team captain during the 1956-57 and 1957-58 seasons. As a senior, he was second in the Far West Conference in scoring at 15.8 points per game. He became a graduate assistant basketball coach under Jack Spencer in 1962, then later was full time assistant from 1972 through 1977 under Coach Jim Padgett and Jim Carey.
 
In 1975 he became the Nevada head golf coach, a position he held until his retirement in 1994. His teams won five conference championships (three in the West Coast Athletic Conference and two in the Big Sky). He took his teams to the NCAA Regionals six times and to the NCAA championship tournament twice (1988 and 1990). Legarza was NCAA Regional Coach of the Year twice, served on the NCAA regional committee for eight years, chairing the committee from 1988 to 1991. Several of his golfers were either All-American or academic All-Americans. He was inducted into the Nevada Athletics Hall of Fame in 1996.
 
In 2008 the John Legarza Foundation was founded, which aims to build awareness and raise funds in support of the University of Nevada golf program. The funds raised go towards recruiting, scholarships, facilities, travel and operations.
 
Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 3 at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of the Snows, 1125 Lander Street, Reno. Reception to follow.