HOUSTON -- Alden Pasche, the first University of Houston basketball coach, died Friday night at his home in Houston after a lengthy illness. He was 75.
Services are set for 1 p.m. CDT Monday at Baptist Temple Church. Burial will follow at Forest Park Mondale.
Pasche, who began the UH basketball program in 1946, coached the Cougars for their first 11 seasons and saw his teams compile championships in three different conferences and compete in three national tournaments. Under his direction, Houston posted a 135-116 record.
Pasche, a native Houstonian, was a 1929 graduate of Jeff Davis High School and earned two varsity letters in football from Rice, from which he graduated. He earned a masters degree in physical education from Columbia in 1939, and coached at three area high schools before taking the UH post.
With Guy Lewis at center, the Cougars won the Lone Star Conference in their first two seasons. Lewis succeeded Pasche and stayed at UH until retiring this past season.
Pasche is survived by his wife, Marguerite, son Norman Pasche, daughter Peggie Kimbro, and two grandchildren, Lacy Pasche, 3-months, and Alden Kimbro, 15.
