Westmont Magazine A Coach for Life

While his winning record testifies to his skill as a basketball coach, the true measure of George Terzian’s success lies in the lives of his players. Throughout the years, he has encouraged athletes to become people of character as well as accomplished ballplayers. Choosing to teach in urban schools, he has consistently reached out to young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. For his exemplary career as a successful and caring coach, Westmont honors George Terzian ’58 with a Distinguished Service Award.

Currently, George is a professor of physical education at Pasadena City College, where he assists a former player in coaching the women’s basketball team. After providing the offensive spark for three years as a Westmont Warrior, George went on to coach Wilson Junior High School to a Pasadena city basketball championship in 1962. He then moved to Pasadena High School where his teams won back-to-back CIF championships in 1977 and 1978, finished runner-up twice, and posted a 383-110 record. He coached the men’s basketball team for 18 years at Pasadena City College, where he has developed one of Southern California’s best community college programs. He was an inaugural member of the Westmont College Warrior Hall of Fame.

George is married to Danita Letts Terzian ’59, and they have two children, Todd and Melissa, and one grandson, Jonathan.