Coach in Gardena Refuses to Play by the Numbers

In today’s world of high school football, statistics are frequently overrated.

But at Serra High in Gardena, keeping data on the football team is taboo. Over the last two seasons, the only mark documented by the Cavaliers is their winning streak, which reached 23 games with a 34-21 opening-round victory over Mission Viejo Trabuco Hills in the Southern Section Division VII playoffs last Friday night.

“We just don’t keep stats,” Serra Coach Leo Hand said. “What we stress is team unselfishness, and statistics do not play a part in our philosophy. We know that we’re different and that we are on a different page, but we think that it is a healthy one.”

That philosophy has been successful for Hand, who last year brought winning football back to Serra, which last had a winning season in 1984. In his first season, Hand led the Cavaliers to a 34-31 victory over Lompoc in the Division VII championship game to finish with 14-0 record.

This season, Serra defended its Camino Real League title and is 9-0. The Cavaliers hold the longest current winning streak in the Southern Section.

“This system, where we have no superstars, has worked for us,” Hand said. “The kids believe in it because they have seen it work. We talk all of the time about unselfishness. When we have our first practice of the year, every player starts out at right guard, which is probably the most unglamorous position on the team. He can’t play for us if he is not willing to be a team player.”

Serra, though, has several talented players who have caught the attention of college scouts. But when the scouts visit the campus, they find no statistics.

“I have heard that by not keeping stats, we are being unfair to the kids,” Hand said. “But the recruiting process is not based on stats. It is based on ability and not high school statistics. Coaches pad stats all of the time, and sometimes that is more of an injustice. People know who the players are.”

In the Cavaliers’ victory over Trabuco Hills, senior Jerald Henry rushed for 351 yards in 21 carries--reporters kept those statistics--and ran 78 yards for the clinching touchdown.

Said Hand: “Henry is a great player who will probably go to any college he wants to.”