LOS ANGELES -- Former Cal State Dominguez Hills men's basketball coach Dave Yanai, who led the program for 19 seasons, is the newest recipient of the John R. Wooden Award 'Legends of Coaching' honor in 2021, becoming the first NCAA Division II coach to win this prestigious honor.
 
Wooden's grandson-in-law, Craig Impelman, announced the selection Wednesday afternoon at the Los Angeles Athletic Club's Virtual Wooden Award Tip-Off Luncheon. The virtual event featured the head coaches from the Division I men's basketball programs in Southern California.

"To say I'm honored is an understatement," begins Yanai, after whom the Torodome court was named in 2010.  "I am really humbled by this honor and lucky to have been blessed with so many people who have been supportive throughout this journey, beginning with my mentor Pete Newell and John Wooden. Also, being the first Division II coach to win the award, I just hope I'm a worthy recipient and that my players enjoyed this wonderful 38-year journey as much as I did."
 
The 'Legends of Coaching' wing of the John R. Wooden Award recognizes the lifetime achievement of coaches who exemplify the legendary UCLA men's basketball coach's high standards of coaching success and personal achievement. When selecting the individual, the Wooden Award Committee considers a coach's character, success rate on the court, graduating rate of student-athletes, his coaching philosophy and his identification with the goals of the John R. Wooden Award.

"Beginning with coaches Newell, Wooden and including others I met, they taught me to always share my knowledge, which became ingrained in my coaching philosophy ... to look at the bigger picture and always think about ways to help others, "Yanai said. "And I tried to do the best I could for all those kids we had at CSUDH and Cal State LA and my high school teams. I was lucky to be at the right places at the right times.
 
Yanai joins an illustrious list that includes the likes of coaching luminaries Dean Smith, Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Calhoun, Jim Boeheim, Pat Summitt, Geno Auriemma, Tara Vanderveer and Steve Fisher, to name a few.

"Winning this award is a priceless honor, and I will cherish it forever," Yanai concluded.
 
The first Japanese-American head basketball coach at any level of college basketball, Yanai took over the CSUDH program for the 1977-78 season. Although he guided the Toros to the 1979 NAIA National Championship quarterfinal, his coaching legacy really began in 1980, the year Cal State Dominguez Hills joined both NCAA Division II and the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). In his first season in both associations, Yanai coached the Toros to the conference championship and the university's inaugural appearance in the NCAA Regional.

Yanai went on to compile a 228-223 record at Dominguez Hills, having been named CCAA Coach of the Year in 1987 and again in 1988. He guided the Toros to four NCAA regional appearances, two CCAA regular-season titles and seven top three finishes in the conference standings. He coached two CCAA Players of the Year, 32 All-CCAA selections, three All-Americans including two first team and four All-Regions.
 
Yanai left Dominguez Hills and went on to coach at nearby Cal State LA for 10 seasons, taking the Golden Eagles to the 1998 and 2000 NCAA Division II Tournament. He compiled well over 400 victories coaching at the two CCAA institutions and is only one of three coaches to do so.

"What an incredible honor this is for Coach Yanai and his family," current Toros head men's basketball coach Steve Becker said. "The John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching Award is one of the most prestigious recognitions of excellence in college basketball. For Coach Yanai to be the first Division II coach ever selected speaks volumes about the lasting impact he's made on his players & the game of basketball. Coach Yanai is the definition of servant leadership & someone who always teaches life lessons through the game of basketball. He is the reason why CSUDH has such rich basketball tradition and I am proud to call him my mentor and friend. Congratulations Coach!"
 
John R. Wood Award
Legends of Coaching Honorees
2021 – Dave Yanai, Cal State Dominguez Hills
2020 – C. Vivian Stringer, Rutgers
2019 – Lon Kruger, Oklahoma
2018 – Jay Wright, Villanova
2017 – Muffet McGraw, Notre Dame
2016 – Tubby Smith, Texas Tech
2015 – Steve Fisher, San Diego State
2014 – Tara VanDerveer, Stanford
2013 – Bill Self, Kansas
2012 – Geno Auriemma, UConn
2011 – Tom Izzo, Michigan State
2010 – Billy Donovan, Florida
2009 – Rick Barnes, Texas
2008 – Pat Summitt, Tennessee
2007 – Gene Keady, Purdue
2006 – Jim Boeheim, Syracuse
2005 – Jim Calhoun, UConn
2004 – Mike Montgomery, Stanford
2003 – Roy Williams, Kansas
2002 – Denny Crum, Louisville
2001 – Lute Olson, Arizona
2000 – Mike Krzyzewski, Duke
1999 – Dean Smith, North Carolina