Football field to be named after Dick Tucker
COSTA MESA -- The Coast Community College Board of Trustees approved the naming of Orange Coast College's football field after legendary head coach Dick Tucker at their meeting held on June 15.
The Pirates will recognize this event at the school's first home football game of the season, which will take place on Saturday, Sept. 17 against Ventura College, beginning at 6 p.m. Prior to the start of the game, Coach Tucker will be recognized and honored with an unveiling of the scoreboard with "Dick Tucker Field" displayed on it.
"When I first heard about the honor, I was surprised beyond belief," Tucker said. "It is such a nice gesture and I really appreciate all of the people who ran with this idea and made it possible."
Doug Bennett, the school's executive director of college advancement, heard the requests of Tucker's family members as well as the thousands of former players and community members who wanted to see this honor take place.
"The request came about as a result of requests from alumni, community members and Coach Tucker's family after the 50th anniversary celebration for Dick's 1963 national championship Team and the 40th anniversary of his 1975 national championship team," Bennett said.
The football stadium was opened in 1955 and was originally named Orange Coast College Stadium. In 1967, the stadium was renamed Harry Le Bard Stadium in honor of Harry R. Le Bard, a founding member of the Board of Trustees of the then Orange Coast Junior College District.
In addition to the Pirates calling the stadium its home, it's also the site of numerous high school games as well as the home to Golden West College football.
According to Bennett, the naming of Orange Coast College Football Field "Dick Tucker Field" has been endorsed by the Orange Coast College coaches, the Kinesiology and Athletics Division and the college's Institutional Advancement and Effectiveness Planning Council (IAEPC). Not wanting to bind the college and the district into perpetual naming of the football field this naming is recommended with the understanding that it would be subject to review in one generation (about 20-25 years).
Tucker coached OCC for 23 seasons and served as the school's athletic director for 10 years before retiring in 1995. Along the way he guided the Pirates to two national titles (1963 and 1975) as well as four conference championships and six postseason/bowl appearances. His 129 career wins is the most in OCC history and in 2004, Tucker was inducted into the California Community College Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
In 1996, Tucker was inducted into the Orange County Sports Hall of Fame and in 2007, he was inducted into the OCC Athletics Hall of Fame.
"I put a lot of wonderful years into Orange Coast College and I wouldn't change a thing," Tucker said. "Again, I am so appreciative of everyone who helped make this happen."
