It is with great regret that we have to announce the passing of a great coach, patron and friend. RIP 28th May 2021
Potential Youth Mentoring would like to welcome Fred Litzenberger as a Patron. He is a well distinguished basketball coach having coached successfully for over 38 years and with whom I had the honour of working with in the summer of July 2015, whilst supporting a number of children and young people from the basketball club called ‘The Bulldogs’. Coach Litz has coached both the men’s and women’s teams at Oregon University, coaching the mighty Ducks to six straight NCAA tournament appearances and back to back Pac-10 title’s in 1998-99 and 1999-2000. He was the head coach at Western State College in Colorado (1994-95) and associate men’s head coach at Northwestern State LA (1993-94). His collegiate coaching resume also includes a two-year stint as an assistant at Miami, Fla. (1991-93) under Leonard Hamilton, four seasons at Colorado State (1987-91), two at Eastern Washington (1985-87), and five at Fresno State (1981-85), as well as five years as head coach at Vanguard university.
It during his stay at Colorado State where Litzenberger first crossed paths with Ducks’ head coach Ernie Kent, when the two were both assistants in the 1987-88 and 1988-89 seasons under legendary coach Boyd Grant. The two helped guide the Rams in their postseason bids in the 1988 NIT (advancing to the semi-finals) and 1989 NCAA Tournament second round after clinching the Western Athletic Conference championship.
In addition to his numerous trips to the NCAA Tournament, Litzenberger’s career features a head coaching ledger of 194-62, 12 20-win seasons, five conference championships four National Invitation Tournament appearances, including an NIT title with Fresno State in 1983. Also, his four-year stint as head coach at Hamline (Minn.) University (1975-79) featured a trip to the NCAA Division III Final Four in 1977.
Earning an undergraduate degree in physical education (1968) as well as a master’s (1980) from Northern Colorado, the three-year letterman broke into the coaching ranks as the freshman student coach at Berthoud (Colo.) High School in 1966-67. He then became an assistant at his alma mater in 1967-68 before moving to the head coaching job at Middle Park High School at Granby, Colo., in 1968-69. A U.S. Army veteran, Litzenberger was the head coach of the Army team at Ft. Huachuca in Arizona from 1970-71.
His teams have led the nation in scoring defense four times and have been in the top 10 in numerous defensive categories throughout his career. Litzenberger, has produced books and videos on defensive fundamentals that are sold throughout the world. Although he currently resides in Eugene, Oregon, USA, he regularly visits the UK. We are both fortunate and proud to have such a wealth of experience as a Patron and look forward to having Coach Litz! join us.