‘Once in a Lifetime’ Chance to Coach the Lakers

Aug. 21, 1960: The Lakers of Los Angeles were coming together. West Virginia University Coach Fred Schaus was hired as the team's new coach. "It was an opportunity that comes once in a lifetime," he told UPI. The team already had a great young player in Elgin Baylor, and the Lakers' top draft choice was Jerry West. Schaus coached the Lakers until the 1966-67 season, then become the team's general manager. Earlier in the month, the Lakers turned down $200,000 from the St. Louis Hawks for Baylor and they hoped West would soon join Schaus, his old college coach. "The Cleveland AAU team is bidding for Jerry's services. Naturally I hope he joins me out here," Schaus said. -- Keith Thursby