Tough Time With the Toros : Women’s Cage Coach Can’t Get Used to Losing

Van Girard rested his bearded face in his hands. He was seated behind a large desk. Basketball practice for the first-year women’s coach at Cal State Dominguez Hills was less than 45 minutes away and Girard had learned that three players would not be there.

One had a national scholarship interview. Another left a message to say she had car trouble and not to expect her. He was still grousing over that when a third player hobbled into the doorway of his office and said the Toro training staff, despite her complaints, would not let her participate because she had injured an ankle the night before.

The team, 4-7 overall and facing its California Collegiate Athletic Assn. opener tonight with visiting Chapman College, had gone more than two weeks without a practice of at least 10 players. Sometimes there has been as few as six. Girard rubbed his eyes. He let out a sigh.

“People told me to be patient when I took this job. They said it was a tough situation,” he said. “There’s a side of me that understands that and then there is my competitive side that can’t take this.”

Girard, 34, is unaccustomed to losing. He is unaccustomed to players who don’t hustle. He is not used to outside sources telling him when and where his players can play or players allowing personal problems to interrupt concentration on basketball.

He has faced all of that this year at Dominguez Hills.

“It has been an interesting learning experience for Van,” admitted Athletic Director Dan Guerrero.

Girard was hired in mid-July to redirect a program that has been going nowhere for years. Because of the late hiring, Girard, formerly of Lynwood High School, was unable to recruit. He accepted a team that was handpicked by former Coach Alice Textor, who resigned after posting an 83-102 record in seven seasons.

In 10 seasons at Lynwood, Girard was 230-48. He led the Lady Knights to seven San Gabriel Valley League titles, 10 consecutive appearances in the CIF Southern Section playoffs and one Southern Section championship.

At Dominguez Hills his hard-driving, fundamental approach has clashed with holdovers who were used to Textor’s low key, scrimmage-scrimmage-scrimmage philosophy.

Girard believes in long practices, hustle and “intangible qualities” in players.

“I want athletes to run the floor, to work hard,” he said. “Maybe I’m naive, but I’m going to find out if it can happen.”

Said Guerrero: “It’s very difficult for an individual accustomed to success to come into a situation like this and not achieve the immediate success he hoped for.”

Girard’s first battle was with a water cooler, a staple in practices under Textor. In high school, Girard said, “you don’t have water breaks.” But there was the jug on the end of the bench on his first day of practice. Textor’s holdovers thought nothing wrong with grabbing a gulp between drills.

A preoccupation with thirst demonstrates what Girard calls “this team’s misplaced priorities. Their lack of desire is driving me bananas.”

Girard has won a few hearts with his efforts, despite the team’s lackluster performances.

“He knows his stuff. There’s never any question,” said Kathy Goggin, the senior Rhodes Scholarship candidate and 6-foot-2 post.

“I was used to nice 2-hour practices. It was like a respite between classes. Now it’s 3 1/2 hours of pure sweat-time.”

Added Guerrero: “From the standpoint of where he wants to be, he is right on track.”

Girard quickly discovered that he was in for a long season.

“You can’t teach desire,” he said. “We’re going through the motions and I sit back and ask them, ‘Why?’ ”

Is there still time to save the Lady Toros, who open California Collegiate Athletic Assn. play Jan 13 at home against Chapman College? Yes, says an optimistic Girard.

“If they do what I want done we can make it real hard on some teams,” he said.

But he conceded: “Earlier in the year I was very optimistic about our chances in the conference. The situation we are in now, we could go 0-12.”

Girard calls his first season “a roller coaster.” He is referring not only to the play of his team but the situations that have confronted him on a new level of coaching.

“I came in with the belief that I had good knowledge of the game but found out there are lots more good coaches at this level than I anticipated.”

Girard also finds it difficult to accept the fact that at Dominguez Hills the training room staff has the last word as to whether an injured player can practice or play.

“I’m not accustomed to having someone like that tell me who I can and can’t play,” he said. “At times I think they have been too soft (in their decisions).”

Goggin, who has missed practices because of Rhodes interviews, says Girard is “real intense. He always wants more.”

To which Girard replied: “I don’t feel I’m asking too much.”

Girard plans to clean house for next year.

“Right now we are starting three non-scholarship people,” he said. “That’s kind of outrageous, but it shows who wants to play.”

There will be lots of playing time up for grabs next season.

“Give him a year of recruiting and he’ll get what he needs,” said Goggin. “He has a team in his head and that’s what he wants on the floor.”

Guerrero said he has received “lots of positive feedback” about Girard from area high school coaches. Girard has been scouring Orange County, a hotbed of girls prep basketball. Whether he gets all of the players he is after, Girard promised a winner.

“There are too many basketball players around for me to recognize. I’ll find them. . . . I’m going to build a team that will work harder than the opponent.”

Girard has six scholarships to give. A scholarship basically covers books and tuition.

But for now he is making do and the team has posted a few good numbers.

Khyra Anderson, whom Girard would like to see run down the court instead of walk, is averaging 11.9 rebounds a game at center. A starter with an injured knee, Anderson is one of those non-scholarship players Girard thinks can be a fairly good player “if she wants to be.”

Guard Devon Akita, who also plays volleyball, is listed among CCAA leaders in four categories.

The team is out-rebounding opponents and has lost by an average of only seven points a game. But its anemic shooting percentage of only 35% from the floor and its turnover ratio of nearly 24 a game are enough to bury the team if it maintains those numbers in conference play against teams like Cal Poly Pomona.

“This team is about to give me a heart attack,” Girard said.

He pointed to an attitude problem as a major stumbling block for the Lady Toros.

“We are inconsistent in practice and it shows in our games,” he said.

“There ain’t no place to go but up,” Girard said.