Boxing: SJSU Hall of Fame coach Menendez dies at 90 in Gilroy

Julius Menendez, a San Jose State Sports Hall of Famer who coached Muhammad Ali to a gold medal in the 1960 Olympics, died Sunday in Gilroy, San Jose State announced Thursday. He was 90.
Menendez, an East St. Louis, Ill., native, died two days before his 91st birthday, according to San Jose State.
Menendez served as head coach for Team USA in the 1960 Olympics in Rome, where Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, won the light heavyweight division.
Menendez also coached Team USA in men’s soccer at the 1976 Olympics, and was an assistant on the 1972 team.
Menendez was a decorated coach at San Jose State, winning three NCAA titles as the Spartans’ boxing coach, and 295 matches in 36 years as the Spartans’ men’s soccer coach.
Menendez was the 1946 national Golden Gloves champion at 147 pounds, and he had a professional record of 14-1-2 with three knockouts.
Menendez joined the San Jose State coaching staff in 1953 as an assistant boxing coach, and became head coach in 1954.
Menendez also coached San Jose State’s men’s soccer team to 22 straight winning seasons. He led the Spartans to 11 NCAA Tournament appearances, including a third-place finish in 1968.
Menendez is survived by his wife Doris Menendez, sons Jack and Danny, and daughter Terri, according to San Jose State.
As of Thursday, funeral services were still pending, according to San Jose State.