Coach Jerry Tarkanian with basketball players

Jerry Tarkanian was born in 1930 and became one of the most successful coaches in American college basketball. His mother, Rose, belonged to the generation of Armenian Genocide survivors. After her father and elder brother were killed, she left her homeland on horseback, met her future husband in Lebanon, and the family emigrated to the United States, where Jerry was born.

Over 34 years of coaching, Tarkanian became an NCAA champion and received coach-of-the-year honours. His habit of chewing a towel during games became one of his recognisable traits. Among his players were NBA stars Larry Johnson, Armen Gilliam and Stacey Augmon.

In the photograph Tarkanian, in a white shirt, holds a basketball; beside him are 3 players in jerseys reading “Long Beach”.