LATTC Athletics History

Los Angeles Trade-Technical College started the athletics program in 1958, with the sports of Men's Basketball and Track and Field. In the beginning the teams did not have a conference to play in so they had to compete at-large. The teams played other Community Colleges when available and Junior Varsity College teams that would try to fit them into their schedules. With the addition of more sports to the program Men's and Co-ed Tennis, Cross Contry, Wrestling, Women's Softball and Golf, Trade-Tech was admitted to the Western States Conference.

Trade-Tech's first conference championship was won by the men's Tennis team coached by Pete Brown. Coach Brown showed the college that Trade-Tech could compete with the best and win. The conference championships started to roll in with the addition of Women's Basketball. The women's Basketball team had a back to back state championship and an undefeated season. These teams were coach by Jim DeSalvo. DeSalvo brought the winning spirit of women's Basketball to Trade-Tech. Many of DeSalvo's Basketball players transferred to universities and have been very successful.

The Cross Country team was the team of the 1980s. The "Beaver" Cross Country team ran off nine consecutive championships and six state meet appearances. In 1988 the Cross Country team placed second in the Southern California Championships meet and third place in the California State Championship Meet.

The father of Track and Field at Trade-Tech was a great man and outstanding coach, Chip Armstrong. Coach Armstrong taught more than the subject of Track and Field to his students. Coach Armstrong injected citizenship, morals, and fellowship to his teams and everyone who ever an for him considered themselves lucky. The Track and Field team has had great success, it has won three Conference Championships and has had many men and women win Southern California and State titles.

The Men's Basketball team has historically been very competitive. The team was coached for many years by Oliver Jones and Courtney Borio. These two coaches put Trade-Tech on the map and started the winning tradition. Currently the Basketball Team is coached by a former Trade-Tech Basketball player, Coach Richard Wells. Coach Wells has had the team ready for State Tournament competition every season. Coach Wells molds local talent into quality student-athletes.

The teams that are produced at Trade-Tech are always well coached in sportsmanship and the teams are respected for their intense competitive spirits. This is due to the best coaches in the system, past and present.