1992-93 / The Times’ All-Ventura County Boys’ Basketball Team : COACH OF THE YEAR : Bradshaw Makes Most of Personnel

Opponents didn’t know what to expect from Simi Valley High this season. But few thought the Pioneers eventually would play for the Southern Section Division I-AA championship.

But they did--most likely because Dean Bradshaw, like a dealer in a high-stakes poker game, shuffled and reshuffled a lineup of overachieving players with expertise.

Except for one player who joined the varsity late in the season, every Simi Valley player started at least one game. Bradshaw employed 12 different starting lineups en route to finishing 24-7, 12-2 and second in the Marmonte League. The team earned its fourth playoff berth in Bradshaw’s five years as coach.

For Bradshaw, it was playing the hand he was dealt.

While marquee players appeared on the rosters of county rivals Thousand Oaks, Ventura and Hueneme, the Pioneers looked to be short on talent.

Only two players averaged more than 10 points a game--seniors Craig Griffin (10.5) and Ryan Briggs (10.8), a Times’ All-Ventura County selection. However, five players averaged better than seven points a game.

Starting jobs were earned on a weekly basis, which made practices “as intense as they have ever been,” Bradshaw said.

“We were very deep and we played nine or 10 players,” he said. “Playing that many bodies kept everyone happy.”

Simi Valley defeated three playoff opponents before losing to Long Beach Jordan, 61-59, in double overtime in the section final.

The Pioneers’ season came to an end the following week with an 70-49 loss to Crenshaw in the opening round of the state tournament.

Bradshaw, who served seven years under former Pioneer Coach Bob Hawking, pitched in on Simi Valley’s 1988 Southern Section championship team that featured Don MacLean, Shawn DeLaittre and Butch Hawking.

But this season might rank as Bradshaw’s most rewarding. He credits Hawking, now an assistant at Cal State Fullerton, with laying the foundation.

“I was very comfortable being Bob’s assistant all those years,” Bradshaw said. “He demanded a lot from his assistants. It was a great lesson.”

Bradshaw’s five-year record is 90-48 (65.2%), which rivals Hawking’s mark of 230-119 (65.9%) at Simi Valley.

It appears Bradshaw learned his lessons well.