just confirmed with me that the changes I’ve made have me doing what I should be doing and that I’m on the right track. Several of your players were also give post-season recognition. I’ve never had a conference MVP and Jausecca Cockerel, what a unique, special young woman. She gives 100 percent in practice and on the court. She is just always going and making the team go. She is just such a calming influence to this ball club. For her to be recognized by the other coaches as MVP was so exciting. And then to be named to the second team all-state team. I’ve only had one other player — Wendy Kolim my third year I was coaching — be named to that team. That was so exciting. And then for them to recognize Gabi Morales, Brittney Smith and Madison Tarver as all-conference selections, I just felt like we were acknowledged for what we accomplished.
Bakersfield College forward Haley Huntington goes to the basket against Citrus College. picked up a forfeit from Citrus College, which had some paperwork issues. There was no change in personnel. It was clerical issues. And the recognition that (we weren’t going to be in the playoffs) was really hard to stomach. So you go from having the greatest thing happen in your professional career to not receiving the reward of playoffs. How much more special was your success this season credited to a team made up almost entirely of local players? When I’m out recruiting I say that I’m Bakersfield College and I want my team to be represented by Kern County to prove that we can win. That’s just what I’ve always been committed to. It’s a wonderful community. It’s a wonderful school and I want to do it with local kids. What was is the reason for such great success (10-0) at home this season? We had great crowds. Ryan Beckwith, our new athletic director, got our gym floor redone and the walls painted. It looked like a new gymnasium and the environment was just so exciting that the kids were just fired up. What did it mean to you to be named Coach of the Year? A few years ago I was really struggling. I was trying to figure out how to reach our current generation. And our volleyball coach Carl Ferreira recognized the struggles I was having. He had me contact a man by the name of Rolland Todd … Rolland is basically a mentor for coaches. He works with coaches all over the country. I started working with him and in that process I reinvented myself. Being named Coach of the Year
Forward Gabbi Morales battles for the ball against West Los Angeles College. You’re coming off a really good year. Do you think that can serve as a springboard for even bigger and better things next year? I sure hope so. We’re returning most of our team. My only sophomores were Jausecca Cockerel, Madison Tarver and Gabi Morales. I shouldn’t really say only. They were a huge part of what we did. But there is some great talent in town and we’re returning a really strong base of young women that worked really hard and sacrificed. The whole time I told my team, it’s a total team effort and it was. We had kids practicing hard every day making everybody else better. As we get some of the key kids in Bakersfield to stay home and play and have a wonderful experience, I believe this can be a great springboard. bakersfieldlife.com
99