1993-94 TIMES ALL-VENTURA COUNTY GIRLS’ BASKETBALL TEAM : COACH OF THE YEAR : Newbury Park Smartly Led by a Tolerant Parvin

Newbury Park High Coach Nori Parvin seems to get better with time.

Consider that her best season--and the most successful campaign in school history--came in Parvin’s 20th year at the helm.

“I enjoy coaching,” said Parvin, 44, who has a 242-200 record. “It’s still fun and I still get excited about it.”

This year’s Panther squad set a school record with 23 victories, breaking the record of 18 set last season.

And Parvin’s Panthers (23-5) came within three points of advancing to the Southern Section Division III-AA final against Division III state champion Brea-Olinda.

“Everything came into place,” Parvin said. “I think we all worked together to make the season as successful as it was.”

The Times’ Ventura County coach of the year relied on a trio of talented juniors. Julie Wastell (11.1 points per game), Kara McKeown (8.9 points and 11 rebounds per game) and Jann Thorpe (10.9 points, 8.0 rebounds) formed the nucleus of the team.

McKeown broke her school rebounding record and Wastell set a school assist mark.

But the statistic in which Parvin said she takes the most pride is the team’s cumulative grade-point average, 3.76--for which the Panthers were honored by the Southern Section.

At Parvin’s core is tolerance and perspective, both of which she says have been instrumental in her success as a coach and a physical education teacher.

“I think my patience and my temperament are my strengths,” she said. “I don’t really get mad. I’m easy-going, not only as a coach but as a teacher.”