Paul Valenti to be Inducted into Pac-10 Hall of Honor

From the Pac-10:

The Pac-10 Conference will honor 10 former student-athletes and coaches with their induction into the Pac-10 Men's Basketball Hall of Honor presented by World Financial Group during the 2009 Pacific Life Pac-10 Men's Basketball Tournament.

Paul Valenti, Oregon State - Valenti played on two Northern Division conference title teams between 1940-42 and during those three years led Oregon State to 64 wins. After graduating in 1942, Valenti had a four-year stay in the Navy during World War II. Upon his return, he served as a long-time assistant to fellow Hall of Honor and Basketball Hall of Fame member Slats Gill. He took over the head coaching duties at his alma mater following the 1964 season and guided the Beavers for seven seasons. Crowned the AAWU Champions with a 12-2 league record in 1966, Valenti led Oregon State to a 21-7 record overall, defeated an Elvin Hayes led Houston team in the NCAA Tournament and narrowly missed qualifying for the Final Four after a 70-64 defeat to Utah. The Beavers led the nation that season with the stingiest defense, allowing just 54.5 points per game. For his accomplishment, he was named the 1966 Conference Coach of the Year. He was inducted into the State of Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1982 and is also a member of the OSU Sports Hall of Fame.

--Jake (jake.buildingthedam@gmail.com)