32 college coaches pledge $32,000 for Bill Walton scholarship

Four prominent college coaches pledged a combined $32,000 this week to establish a scholarship in the name of Bill Walton. Each coach contributed $8,000 to the fund, which will support homeless youth. The total amount matches the number Walton wore during his professional career. Fans can also donate $32 to the cause.

The donation is part of a three-day tribute honoring the late San Diego native, who died of cancer in May 2024 at age 71. The events conclude Saturday with the inaugural National University Bill Walton Classic, a college basketball doubleheader at Pechanga Arena. San Diego State men will face Colorado at 12:30 p.m., followed by the University of San Diego and UC San Diego women's teams at 3 p.m. Both contests are officially sanctioned NCAA Division I regular-season games. The men's matchup will air on USA Network, and tickets remain on sale.

The event was announced in April by the Walton Foundation and Sports San Diego. National University, a veteran-founded nonprofit college with campuses across California, serves as the title sponsor. Mark Neville, CEO of Sports San Diego, stated that the classic is designed to elevate the city's three Division I basketball programs. He added that the event unites the local basketball community to pay tribute to a Hall of Famer.

Activities began Thursday at the Grossmont Center in La Mesa, the city where Walton was born. A memorial blood drive operated from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on what would have been Walton's 74th birthday. Donors received a limited edition, Walton-inspired tie-dye T-shirt. Friday is designated as Bill Walton Tie-Dye Day by the San Diego City Council, a nod to Walton's well-known affinity for the pattern and his love of the Grateful Dead. Councilwoman Jennifer Campbell, who introduced the proclamation, described Walton as a proud native who brought joy and energy to every room.

On Friday evening, the Electric Waste Band, a Grateful Dead cover act with a musical history with Walton, performs at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach. The event, billed as Bill Walton Happy Hour, runs from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets cost $45, with proceeds benefiting the Bill Walton Foundation. The foundation noted that the gathering aims to honor Walton's spirit and passion for life.

The three-day schedule reflects Walton's generosity and connection to San Diego. The basketball games serve as the final segment of the tribute, bringing local and visiting teams together at the arena where Walton played for the San Diego Clippers early in his NBA career.