Basketball coaching legend Charles “Chuck” LaVetter, a Tucson native who graduated from Tucson High and went on to play and coach at Arizona before serving as baseball and basketball coach at Eastern Arizona for 36 years, passed away Saturday due to health reasons. He was 84.
LaVetter’s late older brother Roland LaVetter was also a coaching legend, leading Pueblo and guard Lafayette “Fat” Lever, to state titles in 1976-77 and 1977-78. Roland passed away at age 82 in 2022.
Chuck graduated from Tucson High in 1960, Eastern Arizona in 1963 and Arizona in 1966. He later attended NAU, were he earned a master’s degree in education.
He excelled in multiple sports at Tucson before playing basketball at EAC and Arizona. He was a student assistant for Arizona coach Bruce Larson before becoming the head baseball coach and assistant basketball coach at EAC.
In 1965-66, he served as an assistant to Cedric Dempsey with Arizona’s freshman team. The late Dempsey later became one of the most successful athletic directors in the school’s history.
Chuck served as head coach of the Gila Monsters’ men’s basketball team from 1969 to 2001. From 1993 to 1995 he also served as the women’s head basketball coach.
He finished with more than 500 victories in his coaching career.
His teams played in numerous national tournament, including when he led the Gila Monster men to a 32-0 record and No. 2 national ranking in 1994-95 before falling short in the early rounds.
He received national acclaim in USA Today for guiding both men’s and women’s programs to successful playoff years.
His men’s teams won the Arizona Community College Athletic Region I Conference (ACCAC) Championships in 1984, 1985, and 1995.
One of his former EAC players, Seton Sobolewski, is the head coach of the Idaho State women’s hoops team.
Tucson High boys basketball coach Eric Langford also played for Chuck LaVetter at EAC after his Badger career.
“This man taught me to love basketball and to work hard at it,” Langford stated in a social-media post about his former coach.
Later, when contacted by AllSportsTucson.com, Langford mentioned, “Coach meant a lot to me. He is the first coach to get me out of Tucson. Showed me hard love on and off the court. Didn’t allow me to take any short cuts! I use things he did for me, in my coaching now. I will coach in his honor moving forward. Last time we connected, he told me, ‘I knew you were going to be a coach, because of your IQ and passion for the game.'”
Chuck also served as the athletic director and dean of the physical education department at EAC.
He was a 2013 inductee in the Pima County (Tucson) Sports Hall of Fame, ACCAC Hall of Fame. He is also in the EAC Hall of Fame.
Off the court, he served in the Graham County Red Cross offering many services throughout his time in the Gila Valley area. He also served in the U.S. Army Reserve. Following his retirement, Chuck participated in a classic car club in Phoenix for several years in which his classic cars won awards.
A passage from his obituary:
“Chuck’s journey in life centered on his family and those around him. His deep care and love for his family, friends and players was central to his character. He always treasured his time with his kids and grandchildren. Chuck enjoyed attending his children’s and grandchildren’s sporting/arts events, holidays, and family gatherings even up to his last weeks with them. His kids and grandkids always saw him as a kind, humble, tender-hearted and giving father and grandfather. He is a tremendous example of a loving, caring, giving person who influenced generations of athletes, students, workers, colleagues, and all others around him. He offered himself his entire life to the consideration of all his family and friends. Chuck’s quiet deportment, big smile, and genuine care will always be remembered.”
He is survived by his wife, Diane, his two children, David (Gretchen) and Lisa Whitmer (Bret), 11 grandchildren, his sister, Reva Manning (Tucson).
His father and mother, Toby and Mary, and Roland preceded him in death.
The family kindly requests no flowers.
Celebration services will be held, Friday at 11 am at Hansen Mortuary Chapel (8314 N. 7th St., Phoenix). A graveside service is scheduled for Saturday at noon at East Lawn Cemetery (5108 E. Grant Rd.) in Tucson.
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