Chino Hills’ Steve Baik is The Times’ boys’ basketball coach of the year after winning state title

It was Steve Baik’s decision to place his trust in his Chino Hills players to get into shape, be unselfish and be ready to perform at their best in every game this season.

The Huskies pulled it off, finishing 35-0 and beating eight playoff foes by no less than 20 points en route to winning the first state championship in school history. Eighteen times, the Huskies scored 100 points or more, tying the state record.

Baik has been selected The Times’ boys’ basketball coach of the year.

See the most-read stories in Sports this hour>>

The pressure kept rising but Baik kept the players focused on executing their style of using a trapping zone defense and going nonstop during games. Yes, his starting lineup of five future college players was outstanding, but so was his ability to keep everyone playing unselfish basketball in the name of winning.

“It’s very challenging,” he said. “So many factors go into it. Keeping them focused, keeping them hungry, keeping distractions out of the way. I credit the guys because they stuck to the task at hand. They wanted it so bad and it showed.”

It was Baik’s decision to insert 6-foot-9 freshman Onyeka Okongwu into the starting lineup and let him develop on the job. And what a player he became. His development was crucial to Chino Hills’ success.