By Tim Peterson
Tony Zane, considered a coaching legend at Baldwin Park, passed away Friday at the age of 76.
Zane was at Baldwin Park for 31 years, the last 13 as head coach. He coached former NFL player Lawrence Phillips, and led the Braves to CIF championships in 1980 and 1991. He also led Baldwin Park to 16 league titles.
Zane retired in 2002, but resurfaced at his last coaching stop as an assistant at Bassett under then Olympian head coach Leon Ward in 2009.
‘Tony was a great man and a great coach. He was always there for the kids. That’s what I’ll always remember,” Ward said Friday night as we stood on the sidelines of the East-West All Star game at West Covina High School.
“RIP to arguably one of the greatest to ever do it. The talent he knew how to bring out of kids, the drive he instilled in us, the pride of being a part of something that was bigger than us all. NOBODY better at drawing it up in the dirt when the game was on the line. A great man who gave me my first coaching job when I probably didn’t deserve it. Only bagged on you if he loved you….Rest easy Tony Zane… we love you,” former Baldwin Park HC James Heggins posted on Facebook.
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