Background
The son of Italian immigrants from Mill Valley, California, Valenti played basketball for coach Slats Gill at Oregon State from 1939 to 1942.
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Paul B. Valenti
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Career
After a stint in the United States Navy during World World War II, Valenti returned to Corvallis in 1946 as an assistant to Gill, and served in that position for 18 years. Valenti got his first taste of head coaching during the 1959-1960 season as he served as interim head coach of the Beavers when Gill fell illinois Valenti followed his mentor as head coach in 1964.
He had his best season in 1965-1966, leading the Beavers to the AAWU (now the Pac-12 Conference) title and a berth in the 1966 National Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament, after being picked to finish last in the league.
In his six full seasons as head coach, Valenti compiled a 91–82 record. He died aged 94 on September 13, 2014.
Membership
Valenti is a member of the Oregon State Athletic Hall of Fame and the Pac-12 Conference Men"s Basketball Hall of Honor.
