UCLA Hires Romar as Assistant From Staff of Athletes In Action

Lorenzo Romar, who played his high school basketball in Downey, his junior college ball at Cerritos College and finished at Washington before playing in the NBA, has left Athletes In Action to join the coaching staff of Jim Harrick at UCLA.

“For three years, Lorenzo coached against the top collegiate teams in the U.S.,” Harrick said Friday. “And he has proven that he can more than hold his own against some of the best college coaches in the country.”

Romar, a guard, played four seasons in the NBA with the Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons before playing in the Continental Basketball Assn. in 1984-85. He then joined Athletes In Action as a player, and in 1989, he became co-coach. Romar, 33, directed this season’s team to 21 victories, including those over Cincinnati, Notre Dame, Utah and Florida. His forte was recruiting, bringing in former NBA players Ray Tolbert and David Wood as well as several top college players.

“While at AIA, he recruited some of the nation’s most sought-after players,” Harrick said. “Specifically, he has had great success in coaching big men, the centers and the forwards.”

Romar’s hiring completes Harrick’s staff, which lost assistants Tony Fuller, who became coach at San Diego State, and Brad Holland, who will coach at Cal State Fullerton.

Harrick has promoted Mark Gottfried to full time from part-time status and volunteer Steve Lavin to part time.

“Leaving AIA was the hardest decision I have ever had to make,” Romar said. “I compare this job with UCLA to a kid dreaming of being in the NBA. I grew up in L.A., so a job with a prestigious school like UCLA is a coach’s dream.”