Jim Harrick's ultimate glory still gets recognized, just not at UCLA
LOS ANGELES - The national championship basketball coach from UCLA sits in the bleachers at Cal State Northridge.
He points to the first folding chair in a row of seats designated as the CSUN basketball bench.
"That's my spot," he says.
This is where Jim Harrick, at the ripe young age of 81, works as an assistant coach for the Matadors.
Twenty five years after he led UCLA to its last national title, this is just one of the spots where one can find this city's underground sports legend.
He has been seen at Dodger Stadium hugging Dave Roberts, on a Hollywood set hugging Lamar Odom, in a downtown clothing store hugging the owner. He is greeted by fans on regular walks around the Rose Bowl, on visits to a La Crescenta grocery store, and even recently by an awestruck cop who stopped him for speeding.
The UCLA championship coach seemingly has a spot in every corner of town except UCLA.
One season after his team's 1995 national title, Harrick was fired for falsifying an expense report for a dinner with recruits and allegedly lying during the investigation, including allegedly asking assistant coach
