Lawan Milhouse as a coach will stress defense. As a leader of young men he'll stress, well, staying out of the big house, among other life lessons.
Santa Cruz High's new basketball coach is a correctional officer by day at Salinas Valley State Prison in Soledad. Asked if he relates any of what he's learned in his full-time job to basketball, Milhouse said: "As a basketball coach you do want to teach life lessons. I don't tell them too many stories because some of the stuff is pretty graphic, but I let them know that one wrong turn at age 18 and you could veer off into the wrong place and end up where I work at."
Which is not to say that's anywhere near a concern at Santa Cruz. Cardinal rising senior Kiree Hutchings was named the Prep2Prep CCS Junior of the Year after last season and attended the P2P awards banquet. A nicer young man cannot be found and that no doubt goes for the rest of the Cardinals' roster.
But the world is imperfect and people do make mistakes. When they make big ones, they wind up on the wrong side of the bars from Milhouse.
It's a living for the 35-year-old Santa Cruz High grad who did not play basketball until he reached the Army.
"We played in the Santa Barbara team camp and won our division, so I can't complain," Milhouse said. "Things are going pretty well."
Milhouse was appointed as varsity coach last month after serving as the Cardinals' junior varsity coach for two seasons. He replaces Pat Jones who resigned after leading the Cardinals to a 19-10 record season. Four starters return for Santa Cruz -- Hutchings, senior guard Kaijae Yee-Stephens, junior guard Keanon Williams and senior 6-foot-6 center Oscar Mahoney.
Pete Newell Jr., the man who coached the Cardinals for 30 years and led them to a state title in his final season (2004-2005) taught man defense. Milhouse will too, with some zone sprinkled in, if the occasion warrants it.
"I'm a defensive guy No. 1," Milhouse said. "It's the No. 1 thing I preach. I don't care if the final score is 1-0, as long as we can stop the other team and we have the "1."
Regarding Newell who is returning from Las Vegas just for basketball season to coach the Santa Cruz girls team, the native of Queens in New York City said: "This is a great opportunity considering where Santa Cruz has been under Mr. Newell. ... I'd be a fool if I didn't try to pick off the tree of someone that brilliant and as good as what he does."
VINTAGE NEWELL: Unearthed is a snippet of an interview this writer did when Newell became the coach at Serra in 1973. Pistol Pete was reed thin, had considerably more hair (didn't we all?), enjoyed taking photos and wore sandals during Padre summer league games. But he was also as serious as a heart attack about basketball, like his iconic, namesake father.
"My primary objective is for each individual to grow as young men," Newell said. "I don't care what we may do on the court in terms of tournaments won or leagues won. If we can't grow as young men and deepen the respect we have within ourselves and the respect that we have for our fellow teammates, then any victories are really inconsequential."
Newell also doesn't approve of junk food and forbade Serra players from eating french fries back in '73 while in the Monterey Bay en route to a victory in the Paul E. Walters Memorial Tournament at Cabrillo College. That was probably the tourney that propelled Newell from the all-boys private school to hang-loose Santa Cruz.
SOUTH CITY RE-OPENS FOOTBALL JOB: The South San Francisco High football job has been re-opened and is currently being advertised, but Jay Oca — hired as the new coach after last season — hopes to keep the job.
“The district is doing what it has to do and I’m doing what I have to do to retain the job,” Oca said by phone.
The rub seems to be an education code hiring preference given to district employees over those out of district.
Oca was a teacher at South City when hired late last year as the Warriors coach. He has been in the SSF football program for 12 years — six as the head frosh-soph coach and six as an assistant varsity coach.
However, the Westmoor High grad has now changed districts, which has prompted South City Unified to re-open the football job to in-district candidates first.
The tricky part is, the season is six weeks away and Oca has been preparing the team for roughly six months. The best possible scenario for Oca is nobody in district who is qualified applies and he is able to re-apply and retain the job.
“We teach the kids they need to follow the rules and so we need to follow the rules too,” Oca said in reference to his plight.
Added the veteran educator/coach: “I think my record speaks for itself — I have the skills and went through the interview process and was hired. Now I’ll just have to apply again and I’m keeping my fingers crossed.”
South City is also seeking a new principal.
IRISH MAKE A SPLASH: The Sacred Heart Cathedral swim program not only has a new coach -- Riordan grad Jonathan Riley -- but it has announced it will be practicing (and perhaps hosting meets) at the new pool currently going in at the Boys and Girls Club five blocks from the SHC campus.
First Riley. He swam at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and also picked up a degree in Theology. At present he is the Aquatics Director and swim coach at the Boys and Girls Club of San Francisco. Riley also served as the Lowell High swim coach for seven years. Previous Irish head coach Scott Bergen will be Riley's assistant, freeing Bergen o concentrate on other duties and his family, according to the SHC school web site.
MITTY, ST. JOE'S PROGRAMS HONORED: Mitty has for the 10th time since 1994-95 been named the state girls' program of the year by Cal-Hi Sports. Also, St. Joseph Notre Dame-Alameda has been picked as the overall D5 program of the year.
Mitty won the state volleyball title; captured the CCS title in softball and was ranked No. 4 in the state and No. 10 in the nation; and won the section title in soccer, as well as shining in other girls sports.
“It’s a blessing to be a part of such an amazing athletic program," said star senior softball player Desiree Severance by text. "The support system is great and it’s so rewarding to see everyone’s hard work pay off.”
St. Joe’s won the boys state cross country title in its division, made the NorCal finals in girls volleyball and won the state D5 boys basketball title, led by the Long Beach State-bound Temidayo Yussuf.
Area programs named “schools of distinction” were Campolindo, De La Salle, Monta Vista-Danville and Vacaville. Miramonte picked up an honorable mention.
Briefly: Fremont-Sunnyvale High is in need of a defensive line coach. More info: jake_messina@fuhsd.org ... Logan pitcher Rogelio Reyes has committed to Cal for baseball, reports scout.com ... Foothill star Isaiah Langley has committed to USC for football according to multi published reports.
