For nearly 50 years, Frank Carbajal has enjoyed building a playing and coaching legacy stretching from Greeley to California in two sports — basketball and baseball. Born in 1938, he was the 11th and youngest child of the Carbajal family, which in 1910 migrated from Chihuahua, Mexico to Greeley, where family members worked for the Great Western Sugar Company.

At Colorado State College (now University of Northern Colorado), the 5′ 9″ guard was basketball team captain from 1958-1961 and garnered all-Rocky Mountain Conference and all-NCAA District 7 honors in 1960 and he led the nation most of his senior year with an 87% free throw ledger…

Carbajal began coaching basketball at El Camino High School (CA). In 1967-68, his team went 23-0. He launched his collegiate coaching career with the Fresno State junior varsity, where his teams won 183 games and lost 37.

Next was Santa Barbara City College where he first coached the junior varsity and then the varsity to four 4 Western State Conference titles basketball titles and one runner-up spot. He had five all-American players in the 10 years he coached there.  At the California junior college level, his Deanza team reached the league playoffs in two of his three years. At Hartnell Junior College, his teams qualified for the league playoffs 10 straight years, winning 198 and losing 99 games. He won one California Junior College Championship and had one runner-up finish. In 1996-97, he was president of the Junior College Coaches Association.

Over the years, Carbajal provided many Hispanic youths opportunities to play collegiate basketball, for which he’s often been honored. Victory in sports and promoting a quality of life for people of Hispanic heritage in American society were fundamental to his career. His numerous achievements in both areas are reflected in his book, “On the Outside Looking In,” published in 2011.