Litzenberger Jr, and Edna (Lenhart) Litzenberger. Coach Litz was a devoted basketball coach and lived his life following his dream. He officially retired in April. Over the span of fifty years, Fred coached in the NCAA, as well as the NAIA, and most recently held the position of Director of Basketball, at the United States Basketball Academy in Blue River, Oregon. Coach Litz obtained his Bachelors and Masters degrees at the University of Northern Colorado, and previously was a three year letter winner for the Longmont High School Trojans. He graduated in 1964 from LHS. Fred coached at Middle Park HS in Grandby for one year after graduation, and then enlisted in the US Army. He was stationed in Fort Huachuca AZ, and coached the base Army team.
Coach Litz went on to become the head coach at Hamline University in Minnesota in 1975.
From there he had head coaching stints at Western State University, and Northwest State University in LA. He was head coach at NAIA Vanguard University in Long Beach CA, and led the team to a national tournament appearance. As a head coach, Coach Litz had a 194-62 overall record.
As an assistant, Litzenberger coached at Colorado State under the legendary Boyd (Tiny) Grant, and worked with Ernie Kent, whom he would reconnect with at the University of Oregon.
He also coached at other Division 1 schools: Fresno State, Miami, and at the University of Oregon where he worked as an assistant coach with both the Men's and Women's programs.
There he coached with his dear friend Jody Runge whose teams broke records for U of O.
Additionally he assisted at NW Christian University.
Coach Litz so loved the game that up until COVID, he would travel to China and other SE Asian countries to set up camps and coach. In the last 10 years he traveled to China over 30 times spreading the love of the sport. Known for his Defensive expertise, he would spend hours talking to anyone about basketball and his far reaching experiences.
Coach Litz is survived by his sister Janice Kanemoto (Ed) Longmont CO, his nieces Katie
Leman (Michael Slater) (TX) Kori Leman (Kevin Benard) (CO) nephews Keith Kanemoto (Kelli)
Longmont, and Scott Kanemoto (Beth), 5 great nephews Pierce Benard, Branton Benard, James Kanemoto, Klay Kanemoto and Kai Kanemoto, and 1 great niece Sophie Kanemoto, and numerous cousins.
A Celebration of Coach Litz life will be held Wednesday, July 7, 2021 at 7 PM. at the Longmont Memorial Building 700 Longs Peak Ave., Longmont, CO. This is the GYM where Coach Litz started his Basketball Journey.
Donations can be made in his honor to
Fred Litzenberger Basketball Memorial Fund
C/O Longmont Community Foundation
636 Coffman St, Suite 203, Longmont, CO. 80501
Link: https://longmont.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create?funit_id=2881
OR:
Diabetes Community Care Team
207 E 5th Ave Suite 223
Eugene, OR. 97403
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