Former LPC head men's basketball coach Tony Costello will be inducted posthumously into the California Community Colleges Men's Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame on March 12.

The ceremony, held in conjunction with the state men’s and women’s basketball championships March 11-13 at LPC, will take place at the DoubleTree Hilton, located at 7050 Johnson Drive in Pleasanton. The luncheon, in the Gold/Silver Room, begins at noon and costs $25 per person, payable at the door.

In addition to coaching East Bay high school and community college basketball for more than 30 years, Coach Costello was an advocate for the coaches association, serving as its president from 2003-05.

After founding the LPC program in 2005, Coach Costello coached the Hawks' first game a year later. Over the next 6-plus years under Coach Costello, LPC went to the playoffs after the 2007-08, 2010-11, and 2011-12 seasons. He took a leave of absence during 2012-13 while undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer, but returned for his team's final four games. His overall record at LPC was 101-80.

Perhaps Coach Costello's crowning acheivement at LPC came in his final full season as head coach, guiding the Hawks to a 22-8 record in 2011-12 and leading them to a berth in the Sweet 16 of the state playoffs.

Prior to coming to LPC, Coach Costello coached for 17 years at sister college Chabot with 14 of those years spent as head coach. While at Chabot, his teams qualified for the regional playoffs 12 times, won two conference championships (2003 and 2005), went to the state Elite 8 in 2002 and the Sweet 16 in 1997. His overall record at Chabot was 250-179. Fifteen of his Chabot players went on to play Division I and another 33 at Division II or NAIA. He was also named Coach of the Year twice.

Coach Costello's basketball roots were here in the Tri-Valley. A 1974 graduate of Amador Valley High, he played for legendary basketball coach Skip Mohatt. After assisting at Amador, he was named head coach at Dublin High School in 1981. He coached there for six years, making the EBAL playoffs 4 times and reaching the NCS semifinals in 1983.

Coach Costello was inducted into the Chabot College Athletics Hall of Fame on Jan. 8, 2014. The LPC gym floor was named Tony Costello Court on Aug. 14, 2014. Coach Costello passed away Aug. 25, 2013.