Gene Nakamura, the longtime girls basketball coach at Berkeley High School, passed away on Saturday. A celebration of life will be held at the school where he spent 25 years shaping the program.
A Life Defined by Basketball
Known affectionately as "Coach Nak," Nakamura arrived at Berkeley High in the early 1990s and quickly turned the team into a powerhouse, capturing 15 North Coast Section titles, seven Northern California championships and two state crowns.
His dedication helped establish the school as one of the state’s top public high school basketball programs, a reputation that endured long after his retirement in 2007.
In 2025 the Golden State Valkyries honored Nakamura for his contributions to the sport, recognizing a career that inspired generations of young athletes.
Friends, former players and colleagues remember him not only for the trophies but for the mentorship and discipline he instilled, leaving an indelible mark on the Berkeley community.