The Preps / Scott Howard-Cooper : Legend of Lou Cvijanovich Burnished in a New Book

The basketball team at Oxnard Santa Clara is struggling a bit this season, but the reputation of Coach Lou Cvijanovich is as bright as ever.

Cvijanovich, considered nothing short of a legend by fans, students and former players at the small Catholic school, has won 12 Southern Section titles in three sports in 27 years with the Saints.

That is enough to set him apart from his peers, but how many other high school coaches, anywhere in the country, can say they have had books written about them?

Cvijanovich can, thanks to Thomas S. Johnson, a former player and freshman coach at Santa Clara whose “More Than a Coach” was published in December.

“I think he could have picked a better subject,” Cvijanovich said of Johnson. “But if he’s happy, I’m happy.”

Johnson spent 1 1/2 years on the project, interviewing about 150 people and going to Arizona to learn how Cvijanovich grew up in the one-time mining town of Jerome. The result is the self-published, 221-page book, selling for $14.95 in hard cover or $7.95 in paperback at businesses around Oxnard, Ventura and Camarillo and at Santa Clara games.

Johnson, 26, wouldn’t say how much money he had to spend to publish the book but did say that after selling about 300 of the 1,100 copies printed, he is close to breaking even.

“From strictly a business sense, it was a stupid thing to do,” Johnson said. “But I’ve never had much of a business sense.

“I just thought that as a former player and freshman coach and journalist, that some of the folklore about him should be kept alive.”

And how did Cvijanovich feel about some of the folklore--like the time he threw a folding chair across the locker room and shattered a full-length mirror at halftime of a football game--being kept alive?

“He was receptive, but not overly cooperative,” Johnson said. “He wasn’t negative about it, but he is sort of shy of publicity. He’s old-fashioned that way. He does his job and doesn’t expect to get any exterior rewards.”

Indeed.

“The hell with the book,” Cvijanovich said. “Congratulate me on a win.”

Santa Clara, defending 2-A basketball champion, is 12-6 this season while starting four juniors, none with much varsity experience. Cvijanovich has high hopes for next year, though, and so do other people, since the Saints have been invited back to the prestigious Tournament of Champions. They surprised almost everyone with their good showing in the 1984 Tournament of Champions.

One rumor last week had Rick Ready resigning after one season as football coach at Santa Fe Springs St. Paul to return to the collegiate level. Not true, Ready said. Although he said that his aim is to get back to college, he also said that he will stay with the Swordsmen--for the time being.

“My head is open, but I’m not going anywhere,” he said. “At least for 12 months.”

He recently turned down a request to apply for the head coaching position at his high school alma mater in Cincinnati, Roger Bacon, and has no plans to go after the open spot at Saugus, even though he lives five minutes from that school.

Saugus officials say they will not pick a replacement for Al Hansen until mid-March, but applications are coming in--including one from Rick Herrington, the successful sophomore coach at Newhall Hart, and one expected soon from George Rosales, who recently resigned at Burbank Burroughs.

Football coaching changes have been frequent of late, with Bill Partridge resigning at Gardena and being replaced by defensive coordinator Dale Hirayama, and Fred Neilson at North Hollywood stepping down at the same time as Rosales. Decisions on new coaches at Burroughs and North Hollywood have yet to be made.

Linebacker Randy Austin of Canyon Country Canyon and defensive back Anthony Burnett of Lynwood, a pair of all-state selections by Cal-Hi Sports, decided over the weekend that they will play their college football for UCLA--the fourth and fifth local standouts to verbally commit to the Bruins within a week.

UCLA is also reportedly still in the running for two of the best players in Tennessee, linebacker Brent Collins of Jefferson County and quarterback-defensive back Vincent Moore of Memphis Hillcrest. The 6-foot 3-inch, 225-pound Collins, considered one of the top prospects at his position in the country, is also looking at Tennessee, Arkansas, Georgia and Richmond. Moore is considering Georgia Tech and Memphis State, besides the Bruins.

Moreover, running back Brian Brown of Gardena is expected to choose between UCLA and Nebraska, but Brown may wait until the Feb. 12 signing date before making a decision.

Brown is one of a number of Southern California prospects whom Nebraska has a chance at, and the Cornhuskers plucked quarterback Steve Taylor from San Diego last year.

In fact, the recruiting in the state by assistant coach George Darlington could lead to another big payoff since Nebraska is among the finalists for four of the top players in the San Diego area in 1985-86: running back Terry Rodgers, the Cal-Hi Player of the Year from National City Sweetwater, quarterback Sal Aunese of Vista, center Tom Dabasinskas of San Pasqual in Escondido, and fullback Martel Black from Sweetwater.

Rodgers, the son of Johnny Rodgers, who won a Heisman Trophy at Nebraska, visited USC last weekend and will make Arizona State and Ohio State his two final trips.

Prep Notes Two-time All-City forward Trevor Wilson of Cleveland, who was expected to miss six weeks after an ankle injury Dec. 30, is set to return Friday for the Cavaliers’ game at Taft. . . . Ray Fernandez of Torrance has been named the California soccer player of the year by Gatorade. . . . Guard Jason Turner of Crespi HS has given an oral commitment to play basketball for UC Irvine. . . . The Anaheim Esperanza boys’ soccer team recently set a Southern Section record by going 36 league games without a loss, among them six this season.

Times’ Top 10

SOUTHERN SECTION

Through Jan. 27 No. School, League Record

1. Mater Dei, Angelus 19-0

2. Capistrano Valley, South Coast 19-2

3. Santa Monica, Bay 15-3

4. Muir, Pacific 18-2

5. Serra, Camino Real 14-4

6. HH Wilson, Sierra 17-3

7. Simi Valley, Marmonte 19-1

8. Ocean View, Sunset 15-4

9. Culver City, Ocean 18-2

10. Riverside North, Ivy 18-1

CITY

No. School, League Record

1. Crenshaw, Central 13-2

2. Fairfax, Valley 13-4

3. Carson, Marine 12-5

4. Palisades, Central 13-3

5. Fremont, Central 12-4

6. Westchester, Central 12-4

7. Cleveland, Valley 10-5

8. San Pedro, Marine 10-5

9. Manual Arts, Marine 10-5

10. Dorsey, Central 9-7