One of college basketball's all-time greatest coaches, Denny Crum honed his basketball skills on the courts of Pierce College before moving into the coaching world. Crum attended San Fernando High School and went on to become an integral part of Pierce's men's basketball team from 1954-56. After finishing his playing days at Pierce, Crum transferred to UCLA, where he played for legendary coach John Wooden from 1956-58. After graduating from UCLA in 1958, Crum spent one season as the Bruin' freshman coach before returning to Pierce to coach at his alma mater. After four successful seasons with the Brahmas, Crum returned to UCLA as Wooden's top assistant. In 1971, the University of Louisville offered Crum the position of men's basketball coach ñ a status he has maintained for 29 years. Since moving to Louisville, Crum has become of one the most successful and well-reputed coaches in college sports today. Crum is the second-fastest coach to win 600 career games and has guided his teams to 12 conference championships. His teams have won at least 20 games in 21 of the last 29 seasons and have appeared in the NCAA tournament 23 times. Crum has coached his teams to six Final Four appearances and two national championships in 1980 and 1986. He is one of only three active coaches to win two or more championships, along with the University of Indiana's Bob Knight and Duke University's Mike Krzyzewski. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame bestowed an honor upon Crum for which few are selected, inducting the coach in 1994. Crum is one of only two active coaches, along with Indiana's Knight, to receive this honor. Crum is currently 18th on the all-time basketball coaching victories list.

Doug DeCinces :: Baseball

One of the most popular players in California Angels' history, Doug DeCinces was named to the Angels All-Time Team in April, 2000, as the best third baseman to ever play for the club. Before embarking on an amazing major league baseball career, DeCinces starred as a two-sport player at Monroe High School in North Hills, playing both baseball and basketball. A talented athlete, DeCinces chose to focus on baseball and played for Pierce College from 1969-70. DeCinces earned all-star Conference honors twice while at Pierce. DeCinces' team also featured future major leaguer Rick Auerbach. After leaving Pierce in 1970, DeCinces signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles organization. DeCinces spent just over four seasons in the minors before being called up to the major leagues in 1975. DeCinces played eight seasons with the Orioles, earning American League Player of the Month honors in July 1978. He is the co-owner of the Baltimore record for longest hitting streak, earning hits in 22 games in 1978. In 1979, DeCinces helped lead the Orioles to the World Series, where he tied a series record for hitting a home run in his first at-bat. In January 1982, the Angels acquired DeCinces in a trade, who made a triumphant return home to Southern California. That year, he helped lead the club to the American League West title and finished third in league MVP voting behind future Hall of Famers Robin Yount and Eddie Murray. The American League All-Star Team selected DeCinces to its squad in 1983. He helped the Angels to another A.L. West title and the A.L. Championship Series in 1986. DeCinces currently holds four Angels records and was named A.L. Player of the Week and Player of the Month twice in his Angels career. DeCinces retired from baseball after the 1986 season and remains active in charity work, sponsoring the annual Doug DeCinces March of Dimes Celebrity Golf Tournament.

Mark Harmon parlayed a celebrated college football career into a flourishing acting career that has spanned nearly two decades. The son of former Heisman Trophy winner and KTLA Channel 5 sportscaster Tom Harmon, Mark attended Harvard School before enrolling at Pierce College in 1970. Harmon earned the position of starting quarterback as a freshman. He earned All-Conference honors in 1970-71 and was named to the Junior College All-America team in 1971. In 1972, Harmon transfered to UCLA, which honored him as the Bruins' Rookie of the Year at the end of the season. As a Bruin, Harmon had a 17-5 record as a starter, passed for 845 yards and nine touchdowns and rushed for 1,504 yards and 14 touchdowns. After graduating from UCLA in 1974 with honors, Harmon ventured into the world of acting. He quickly earned an Emmy nomination in 1978 for his role in the television movie "Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years." Harmon shot to stardom in 1983, when he first appeared on the popular NBC medical drama "St. Elsewhere" as Dr. Robert Caldwell. Harmon's character was one of the first on television to deal directly with AIDS, which caused Caldwellís death on the show in 1986. That same year, People Magazine named Harmon its "Sexiest Man Alive." Harmon went on to star in several movies, including "Summer School," "Stealing Home," and "Wyatt Earp." Harmon also appeared in the television dramas "Reasonable Doubts" and "Charlie Grace." Since 1996, Harmon has played orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jack McNeil on the CBS prime-time medical drama "Chicago Hope."

A successful professional quarterback, Erik Kramer has enjoyed an acclaimed career in the Canadian Football League and the National Football League. Prior to becoming an outstanding college quarterback, Kramer excelled at Burroughs High School in Burbank before starring on Pierce's football team. Kramer spent 1983 and 1984 as Pierce's starting quarterback. In 1984, Kramer led Pierce to its best-ever season with a 10-0 record and a berth in the prestigious Potato Bowl. After compiling impressive results at Pierce, Kramer earned a scholarship at North Carolina State and transferred in 1985. In 1986, he was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the year. While at N.C. State, Kramer passed for 4,757 yards and 31 touchdowns in only two seasons, breaking eight school passing records in the process. In 1988, Kramer got his first taste of football north of the border, playing for the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL. In 1993, the NFL's Detroit Lions signed Kramer, who made his first NFL start while setting a personal 76% completion percentage with 257 yards and three touchdowns. That same season, he led the Lions to the NFC Central Division title and an appearance in the NFC Championship. Kramer signed with the Chicago Bears in 1995, where he set the team's single-season records for attempts (522), completions (315), yards (3,838) and touchdowns (29), and was the only NFL quarterback to take every snap that season. In 1999, Kramer signed a two-year contract with the San Diego Chargers. Kramer has enjoyed seven 300-yard games in his professional career and is the top-rated passer in Chicago Bears history.