LONG BEACH STATE NOTEBOOK / JASON REID : Lindgren Is a Fixture in Water Polo Program

True, the money isn’t bad. But divide the pay by hours worked and the job isn’t worth it.

Good teams come and go. He can’t count on success every season, so he doesn’t stick around for that either.

What keeps Ken Lindgren, Long Beach State’s water polo coach, around the pool is the people.

So even when Lindgren reaches personal milestones--which he did Saturday by winning his 300th game at Long Beach--he reflects more on the players who have helped him get there rather than the accomplishment itself. Lindgren’s philosophy: Put value on people, not numbers.

“It’s just another game, and I mean that,” Lindgren said. “Yeah, I think it shows I’ve been around for a while, and it’s nice that I’ve had that type of success, but I’m pleased for all my players.

“It’s really the accomplishment of all the players who have been through the program.”

Victory No. 300 came Saturday, 13-11, over UC Santa Barbara at the Belmont Plaza pool. Lindgren is 300-279-3 in 21 seasons at Long Beach. Lindgren coached Cal State Fullerton from 1971-74, but Long Beach officials are unable to accurately determine his record from those seasons. No problem for Lindgren.

“The most enjoyable part for me is the players,” Lindgren said. “To watch them come through the program and develop is what’s fun. I haven’t tired of that at all.”

Recently, that’s about all that kept the coach going. The 49ers have struggled the last few seasons, largely because of injuries. Lindgren admittedly hasn’t handled the down cycle well.

“The bad seasons are always bad,” he said. “They always take the wind out of your sails. It’s harder for me to keep myself motivated and it’s harder for the kids too. Obviously, when you’re having success it makes it a lot easier on everyone.”

So far, the 49ers (7-9, 2-5 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) are developing nicely. Long Beach will play host to the MPSF tournament (Nov. 23-36) and Lindgren believes his group will be a factor.

“I think the corner is being turned,” he said. “I don’t think we would have been in this position without all the injuries the last couple of years, but it happened and we can’t do anything about that. All we can do is move forward. I think we are.”

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Back and better: Kip Parsons’ injury headed the list that wrecked the previous water polo season. Parsons, a senior, missed the entire season because of surgery to his right shoulder.

Devastated initially, Parsons (Villa Park High) eventually snapped out of his funk. He did all he could to get back during his medical redshirt season. The results are impressive.

Parsons leads the team with 34 points. Greg Finley is second with 20.

“I really wasn’t sure about Kip,” Lindgren said. “I didn’t know how fast he would be back or how [good] he would be. A lot of his improvement is based on how hard he worked in rehabilitation.

“Being out a year showed him how much he really missed it, which only made him work harder.”

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Back and better II: Seth Greenberg, men’s basketball coach, said there is no doubt about guard James Cotton.

Not only is Cotton fully recovered from a severe left ankle sprain that forced him to redshirt as a sophomore, he has improved.

“James Cotton is not only one of the best guards in the Big West, he’s one of the best on the West Coast,” Greenberg said.

Greenberg’s excitement is based on fact as much as potential. Cotton was voted the Big West freshman of the year two seasons ago after averaging 11.4 points and 4.2 rebounds.

Greenberg said Cotton, a tireless worker, seized the opportunity to improve himself after suffering the injury during an exhibition game. His commitment has paid off.

“[The injury] helped him because it gave him a whole extra year to work on his individual skills,” Greenberg said. “And nobody works like James Cotton.”

49er Notes

The Big West Conference selected Brita Schwerm, the 49ers’ senior outside hitter and team captain, as its women’s volleyball player of the week Monday. Schwerm, a two-time award winner this season, led Long Beach to victories last week over No. 12 Notre Dame, Nevada and New Mexico State. She had 61 kills, 50 digs and a .376 hitting percentage. . . . Long Beach will induct eight members into the 49er Hall of Fame during a banquet tonight at the Long Beach Sheraton. Tickets, $75 per person, can be purchased by calling (310) 985-4662. The group of inductees: Tara Cross-Battle, volleyball, 1986-89; La Quinta High baseball Coach Dave Demarest, baseball, 1970-72; Leonard Gray, basketball, 1972-74; Tom Hermstad, special category, water polo referee; Kyle Kopp, water polo and swimming, 1987-90; Bill Ridgeway, community; Ben Rudolph, football, 1979-80; Penny Toler, basketball, 1986-89.