Julio Toro

Julio Toro was a legend in Puerto Rican basketball, first as a player for the national team from 1961-74, and then as a coach. As a player he won three BSN (Baloncesto Superior Nacional) league titles, in 1967, 1969, and 1972, and he was BSN Rookie-of-the-Year in 1961.

Toro began coaching in 1977. He won 12 league titles in the BSN, in 1980, 1982, 1984, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1998–2001, 2003, and 2009, and he was named Coach of the Year in 1979. In 1992 he coached the national team to the final of the FIBA Americas Tournament, losing only to the dream team. In 2004 Toro coached Puerto Rico to an upset of the USA team, the only time (through 2020) it has been defeated at the Olympics by a team other than the Soviet Union.