Carl Kraushaar, the starting center on Coach John Wooden's first two UCLA teams (1948-49 and 1949-50), has passed away. Kraushaar passed on Thursday, July 21st of natural causes surrounded by family in Newport Beach. He was 84 years old.
A transfer from Compton College, Kraushaar led the Bruins in scoring (9.35 points) as a junior in 1948-49. UCLA set a school record for 22 victories (22-7) under first-year coach Wooden and won the PCC Southern Division, then lost to Northern Division champ Oregon State in the PCC playoff.
As a senior, he earned All-PCC honors and was the team's third leading scorer (8.5), as UCLA again set a school mark for victories (24-7). The Bruins won the school's first-ever PCC Championship and UCLA advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in its history.
"(Wooden) was a real pleasure to play for," Kraushaar told the Daily Pilot in 2003. "He was a wonderful coach and a wonderful person. Those were his first two years at UCLA. I couldn't have made a better choice for a coach."
Kraushaar was selected in the 1950 NBA draft by Rochester in the eighth round. He turned down the opportunity to play professional basketball and decided to get into teaching and coaching, later moving into various administrative positions. Kraushaar coached the UCLA Freshman team in 1950-51 while obtaining his teaching credential. He began his teaching/coaching career at Excelsior High School in 1953, capping his career as a Vice Principal at Norwalk High School and retiring in 1987.
Kraushaar was married to his late wife, Frances, for 45 years. He is survived by four grown children -- twin sons Karl and Kurt, daughter Kandis and son Kory, five grandchildren, two of whom played volleyball at UCLA (Kris and Kent), and three great grandchildren.
A memorial service is scheduled for
Friday, July 29 at Voyagers Bible Church in Irvine at 1:00 pm.
