Richard "Dick" Crawford Walsh

Richard “Dick” Walsh passed away peacefully at home in St. George, Utah on July 13, 2023. Dick was a husband, father, brother, friend, coach and mentor to many.

Born and raised in Taft, California, Dick flourished in the schools’ athletic programs playing football, basketball, baseball and tennis. In 1956, Dick’s senior year of high school, he was a member of the Taft Union High School Wildcats Valley Basketball Championship team. The next year, he earned All-Conference honors while playing for Taft College. In 1957, Dick received a full athletic scholarship to attend College of the Pacific (now University of the Pacific) and thrived in the Division 1 men’s basketball program. In 1961, with his master’s degree in hand, Dick moved to Hayward, California, where he took his first coaching job at Mt. Eden High School.

In 1968, Dick became the head basketball coach for Ohlone Community College in Fremont, California, where he developed a highly competitive basketball program in addition to coaching men’s tennis. Over the years of practices, travel, holidays on the road, and competition, Dick made lifelong friends with his athletes and fellow community college coaches.

In 1981, Dick took a sabbatical from Ohlone to become the Director of Basketball for the country of New Zealand. For one year, he travelled the country putting on clinics, helped develop the New Zealand Professional Basketball League, and prepared the men’s and women’s national basketball teams for the World Games. It was a wonderful adventure that he always recalled fondly.

Returning to Fremont in 1982, Dick became the tennis professional at Mission Hills (formerly Kimber Woods) Tennis Club while continuing his coaching role at Ohlone. He provided private instruction, group lessons, and tennis clinics to athletes of all ages and abilities.

A coach and educator through and through, Dick loved talking sports, strategy, and the mental aspects of any game. He loved to fish, garden, grill, and baked excellent cookies. Until the very end, he took pride in maintaining his own athletic regime through swimming, riding his stationary bike, or going to the weight room.

In his lifetime, Dick achieved many honors including being inducted into the California Community Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame (2012) and Taft Union High School Hall of Fame (2013). He was recognized for his contribution to coaching by his peers, having received Coast Conference Coach of the Year award in 1993. His office was full of trophies, photos, and memorabilia from past players, teams, and fellow coaches.

Dick was married to his wife Josie for over 45 years. He is survived by their combined family including his daughters Kim (Bryan) Baptist and Kristen (Michael) Desmond, Josie’s children Terrie (Kevin) Desler and Richard (Corrine) Sanchez, and five grandchildren – Samuel, Gabriel, Marisa, Ethan and Anthony.

If you’d like to make a donation in Dick’s honor, please consider Ohlone Community College Athletics. Go to https://www.ohlone.edu/foundation, select “Donate Now” and select “Dick Walsh Memorial.” Your donation will benefit Ohlone College Athletics.