Education
Bassett graduated from University of California, Los Angeles in 1951, and would go on to coach the University of California, Los Angeles tennis team for 27 seasons (from 1967 to 1993).
Bassett graduated from University of California, Los Angeles in 1951, and would go on to coach the University of California, Los Angeles tennis team for 27 seasons (from 1967 to 1993).
At University of California, Los Angeles, he compiled a record of 592-92-2, winning 13 conference championships, seven National Collegiate Athletic Association team championships (1970, 1971, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1982 and 1984) and producing three National Collegiate Athletic Association singles champions, four National Collegiate Athletic Association doubles team champions and 49 All-Americans. While at University of California, Los Angeles, he has worked with some of tennis’ most recognized players, including national champions Arthur Ashe, Ian Crookenden, Billy Martin and Jimmy Connors, and 1992 Olympian Mark Knowles. After leaving the Bruins, he became a volunteer coach at Pepperdine in 1994 and 1995 and assumed the head coaching position in 1996, leading Pepperdine to a 22–7 season.
He was inducted into the University of California, Los Angeles Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998, the Industry Training Authority Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame in 1993, the Southern California Tennis Association Hall of Fame in 2005, and the Santa Monica College Sports Hall Of Fame in 2008.
He also wrote books on tennis, penning “Tennis Today” and “Tennis: The Bassett System.”.