Carlito Labarda Jr. — Men’s Basketball

Carlito Labarda Jr., became the 16th men’s basketball head coach in program history this June.

“Carlito comes to us after a long and successful stint as an assistant coach under Dr. Carson Cunningham at Carroll College,” Athletic Director Anji Weissenfluh said. “Carlito has helped established a tradition of excellence at Carroll and shares the core values of our department. He brings an ability to recruit quality student-athletes that are able to excel both in the classroom and on the court.”
A native of San Pedro, Calif., Labarda spent the four previous seasons as an assistant coach at Carroll College. The Saints posted a 79-45 record during Labarda’s four-year career there, and are coming off consecutive NAIA Division I quarterfinal appearances.

“I am very excited to join a special group of coaches at Eastern Oregon University, my visit to La Grande was an awesome experience,” Labarda said. “From interacting with the community, to the student-athletes on campus, it’s a place where I want to be and can’t wait to get started! The amazing family culture established in the athletic department will make it a smooth transition for me as a coach, which I don’t take for granted. I’m truly blessed to be a Mountaineer.”

Labarda began his coaching journey at Purdue University, where he was the team’s manager and student assistant coach from 1994 to 1999. Labarda graduated from Purdue with a history degree and became good friends with Cunningham, who was a standout player and starter, after transferring from Oregon State.

“Carlito is a lifelong friend, tireless worker, and passionate basketball coach,” Cunningham said. “It’s a little bittersweet since Coach Labarda won’t be with us at Carroll next year. But mainly it’s just sweet to know that after all his hard work and years of dedication to the game, Coach Labarda is getting a chance to become a head college basketball coach.”

The EOU Mountaineers capped the season with a record of 24-9 and made it to the second round of the NAIA Division II Tournament.