Former SBCC basketball coach Frank Carbajal passes away

Frank Carbajal (in wheelchair) was inducted into the Santa Barbara Court of Champions on May 31, 2015.
Frank Carbajal (in wheelchair) was inducted into the Santa Barbara Court of Champions on May 31, 2015.

Former SBCC men's basketball coach Frank Carbajal passed away on Thursday, Sept. 29 after a long illness. He was 78.

Carbajal enjoyed a successful 10-year career (1978-88) at SBCC. He guided the Vaqueros to two State Community College Final Fours, reaching the championship game in the 1983-84 season, won four Western State Conference championships and finished runner-up twice. His teams won 21 or more games seven times and five of his players earned All-American honors. His record at SBCC was 195-115.

He coached future NBA players Ron Anderson and Chris McNealey at SBCC. Carbajal, a former baseball and basketball star from Moab, Utah, had 662 wins as a high school and college coach. He also coached at De Anza and Hartnell Colleges before retiring in 2005.

Story on "Coach Carb" on Noozhawk.com

"With great sadness, this is to inform you that Coach Carb passed away earlier this morning," said David Rosales, who played for Carbajal from 1982-84. "As many of you know, he'd been battling Progressive Supranuclear Palsy for the last few years.

"Rest in Peace Buddy!!!"