Sorry to learn of the passing of Rich Mohr, a former Riordan head coach whose 1959-60 team won the school's first Catholic Athletic League title, defeating Serra in a special Monday playoff game. A USF grad, he was a professional educator who went on to teach, administer and coach in the East Bay. Three of his key players on that Crusader championship unit were Joe Lanfranco, Bob Falco and Joe Smith. As the seasons rolled on, RIordan would capture many more basketball crowns. But Mohr's team was the first.
Rich Mohr
- Thread starter colhenrylives
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I don't comment a lot on here but feel the need to on Coach Mohr.
He was a Vice principal at Ygnacio Valley and a big influence on my playing and coaching career. One of the best coaches and people I have encountered in my life. He was the varsity basketball coach for a while at ygnacio valley before I was there. He coached the first league championship ever at YV.
Even though He was never my teams coach. He had a way to come up to me after a bad game (either as a coach or player) and teach without criticizing. I always left meetings with him feeling better about myself and knowing what I needed to do to improve. Rare quality.
A true professional.
He was a Vice principal at Ygnacio Valley and a big influence on my playing and coaching career. One of the best coaches and people I have encountered in my life. He was the varsity basketball coach for a while at ygnacio valley before I was there. He coached the first league championship ever at YV.
Even though He was never my teams coach. He had a way to come up to me after a bad game (either as a coach or player) and teach without criticizing. I always left meetings with him feeling better about myself and knowing what I needed to do to improve. Rare quality.
A true professional.
There was no Joe Smith on the 1960 team, there was a Dennis Smith, who was a 6' 2" Junior on that team.
1960 was the first year that the CAL held playoff games after the regular league season finished.
Bishop O'Dowd and Junipero Serra tied for the Round Robin Championship with 10-4 league records. Archbishop Riordan finished in third place with a 9-5 league record.
Bishop O'Dowd beat Archbishop Riordan at Bishop O'Dowd on February 23rd in the last league game played that season. BOD 58 AR 39
On Friday, March 4th the Semi Final Games of the C.A.L. Playoffs were held at U.S.F.
Archbishop Riordan beat Bishop O'Dowd 64-53. Joe Lanfranco scored 15 points and pulled down 19 rebounds for the Crusaders, Bob Falco scored 21 points, and Dennis Smith scored 17 points for Riordan. Joe Tomsic scored 9 points and John O'Connell scored 2 points for the Crusaders.
Junipero Serra beat Bellarmine 44-33, Bellarmine was the 4th place team with a 7-7 league record.
On Saturday, March 5th the Championship Game and the Third Place Game were held at U.S.F.
Archbishop Riordan beat Junipero Serra in Overtime 41-36. Joe Lanfranco scored 11 points and pulled down 9 rebounds for the Crusaders, Bob Falco scored 5 points, and Dennis Smith scored 11 points for Riordan. Joe Tomsic scored 6 points and John O'Connell scored 8 points for the Crusaders. Game was tied at 36 after 4 quarters.
Bishop O'Dowd beat Bellarmine 56-52 in the Third Place Game.
On Monday March 7th the Championship Point Game was held at U.S.F.
Archbishop Riordan beat Junipero Serra 40-38. Joe Lanfranco scored 8 points and pulled down 12 rebounds for the Crusaders, Bob Falco scored 14 points, and Dennis Smith scored 11 points for Riordan. Joe Tomsic scored 7 points for the Crusaders. John O'Connell and Ray Calegari played in the game, but did not score for the Crusaders.
Archbishop Riordan played in the Peninsula Tournament of Champions, after this.
Joe Tomsic did not play in the PToC, because he was in the hospital taking a physical before becoming inducted into the U. S. Army.
Bob Falco scored 30 points in the second PToC game, becoming the first Archbishop Riordan player to score 30 points.
Rich Mohr coached Archbishop Riordan for 3 seasons; 1959, 1960, & 1961
Rich Mohr won 50 games and lost 37 games as the Riordan head coach.
He was the 5th basketball coach hired by Riordan, but the 4th different Head Coach.
Ed Fennelly held the job twice, with Tom Dineen coaching for one season, after Ed's first 2 seasons coaching Riordan. Albert Lavin coached Riordan the season (1957-58) prior to the hiring of Rich Mohr.
The 1960 Archbishop Riordan Championship team was the 11th season of basketball.
Of course, Maryland Terrapin Joe Smith was the number 1 overall pick of the Golden State Warriors in the 1995 NBA Draft. I saw his first ever college game in 1993 at the old US Air Arena (Capital Centre) as Maryland beat Georgetown in what can arguably be called the biggest regular season win in Maryland history. I also saw his last college game as Maryland lost to UConn in the Sweet 16 in Oakland in 1995.
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