Romar was born in Compton, California in 1958 and grew up playing basketball in Southern
California. He was a standout player at Pius X High School in Downey, where he was named the California Player of the Year in 1976. After graduating from high school, he attended Cerritos College for two years before transferring to UW.
During his time at UW, Romar was a key player for the Huskies. He played point guard and was known for his quickness, ball-handling, and ability to distribute the ball. In his senior year, he helped lead the Huskies to the NCAA Tournament, where they advanced to the Sweet 16.
After graduating from UW in 1980, Romar was drafted by the Golden State Warriors in the seventh round of the NBA draft. He played two seasons in the NBA before playing professionally overseas in Italy and Japan.
In 1996, Romar began his coaching career as an assistant coach at UCLA under Jim Harrick. He later served as the head coach at Pepperdine and Saint Louis University before returning to UW in 2002 as the head coach of the men’s basketball team.
During his tenure at UW, Romar led the Huskies to six NCAA Tournament appearances, including three Sweet 16s and one Elite Eight. He also coached several future NBA players, including Brandon Roy, Nate Robinson, and Isaiah Thomas.
Romar was known for his positive attitude and emphasis on character development. He was a mentor to many of his players and helped them develop both on and off the court. He also emphasized an up-tempo style of play and was known for his ability to recruit top talent to UW.
In 2017, Romar was let go as head coach of the Huskies after the team had several disappointing seasons. He later joined the coaching staff at the University of Arizona, where he currently serves as an assistant coach.
Romar’s legacy at UW is a strong one. He helped build a winning culture and brought the program to new heights during his tenure as head coach. His emphasis on character development and positive attitude had a lasting impact on his players and the program as a whole. Romar’s
contributions to the sport of basketball and to UW will not be forgotten.
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