Longtime basketball coach Tom Orlich joins huge milestone as Buchanan picked up wins
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- Tom Orlich became the sixth California coach to reach 900 career victories.
- He reached 900 as Buchanan beat Clovis North and now sits at 901.
- Orlich holds a 901-315 career record with nine TRAC titles and three section crowns.
Buchanan High boys’ basketball coach Tom Orlich has added another remarkable milestone to his storied career, becoming only the sixth coach in California state history to earn 900 career victories.
Orlich reached the prestigious mark as his Buchanan Bears defeated Clovis North 59-43 earlier this week, according to Central Section historian Bob Barnett.
The Bears kept their momentum going, following up the milestone with a 61-49 win over Clovis East, bringing Orlich’s career win total to 901.
Orlich has led Buchanan to nine TRAC championships and remains undefeated in league play this year at 5-0.
He’s also guided his teams to three section championships and has been runner-up seven times, Barnett said.
In Central Section play, Orlich boasts a record of 380-131, including his years at Clovis West.
Orlich’s overall coaching resume is equally impressive.
He holds a career mark of 901-315, a record that includes 25 years at South Lake Tahoe, where he notched a 521-184 record, captured two Nevada state titles, nine regional crowns, and 16 conference championships, Barnett said.
Orlich was The Bee’s co-Coach of the Year last season.
This story was originally published January 26, 2026 at 9:15 PM.
