49ers’ Troubled Season Ends With a Whimper : Volleyball: Long Beach State Coach Gimmillaro’s toughest year finishes with a second-round loss to San Diego State.

They didn’t win another national championship. They weren’t even close. A conference title? No, that run ended too.

No doubt about it, this wasn’t a super season for the Long Beach State women’s volleyball team. It ended in a rinky-dink gym in front of a raucous crowd Saturday night at San Diego State. The Aztecs defeated the 49ers in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

It figures that the most trying season of Coach Brian Gimmillaro’s 11-year career would end in a struggle. Everything else has been too.

But through all the problems and losses, Gimmillaro kept the 49ers going. His coaching overcame numerous injuries and inexperience. Gimmillaro got the most he could from the group.

“It was the hardest year I’ve ever coached,” Gimmillaro said. “Every time I thought we were maturing, every time I thought we were building, something else would happen. It was very, very difficult.”

His frustration began before the season. Gimmillaro believed the 49ers would be among the nation’s best ball-control teams. His group had a nice blend of athleticism, skill, experience and youth.

With many freshmen and sophomores in key roles, Gimmillaro needed everything to fall into place. But injuries often destroy even the best-laid plans.

Sophomore outside hitter Kristin Harris became a medical redshirt after reinjuring a knee. Shawnee Hayes, a junior defensive specialist, left the program and school because of a medical condition.

All of a sudden, the 49ers were in trouble.

“Those were major losses and we tried, at first, to deny how big they were,” Gimmillaro said. “We had Kristin at the beginning of the season and we were far ahead of pace. We were just never able to get over those losses.”

And there were the usual minor injuries throughout the season. However, there seemed to be more this season than in Gimmillaro’s previous 10 combined.

“Our development would have come quicker if it had not been for the periodic losses,” Gimmillaro said. “That made it a bigger struggle.”

Gimmillaro had to adjust--repeatedly. The late nights and worry wore him down a bit, captain Brita Schwerm said.

“It’s been hard at times,” Schwerm said. “This group has probably put a few more gray hairs in his head.”

The 49ers, ranked 16th in one national poll last week, finished 22-10. They were fourth in the Big West Conference at 12-6--ending a run of four consecutive conference titles.

Long Beach and Hawaii (1987-90) are the only teams to win four consecutive Big West titles. Long Beach won 68 of 72 conference matches (94%) during its title streak.

The loss Saturday marked the 49ers’ earliest NCAA tournament exit since 1987. Gimmillaro has won two national titles at Long Beach (1989, ‘93) and guided the team to three final fours.

“He really is an amazing coach,” Schwerm said. “He knows more about the game each year. Actually, it’s kind of scary how much he knows.

Gimmillaro graduated in 1970 from Long Beach with a degree in economics. Before making Long Beach a national power, he was a highly successful coach at Cerritos Gahr from 1978-85.

His record at Long Beach is 302-88 (.774%). He was selected the national coach of the year in 1990 and won the Big West’s award three times (1991, ’92 and ‘94).

“What makes him so great is that he knows how to teach,” Schwerm said. “I’m sure there are a lot of coaches who know a lot about the game, but they don’t know to make their athletes understand what they want done.”

Gimmillaro is a fierce competitor, and he admits winning often consumes him. Success makes him want more.

“You’ll die in sports thinking about winning,” he said. “I wish I thought about winning less. I preach it less [to the team] than I think about it, but I’d like to think about less too.”

To the 49ers, Gimmillaro teaches dedication and responsibility. He expects his players to commit totally to the program.

“In any team sport, the No. 1 job of a coach is to teach people to be trusted,” he said. “We have to teach them to be responsible enough to have their teammates trust them in any stressful situation.

“I want to teach people to be giving, confident and proud. Once you have that on the court, you get a real strong force. I want them to experience that when they’re here and then carry that with them throughout their lives.”

Playing for Gimmillaro isn’t easy. But for those tough enough, it’s a rewarding experience.

“He’s very demanding, but he expects what all athletes should expect of themselves,” Schwerm said. “He knows what he demands from you is something you should be doing.”

Prentice Perkins agrees. Perkins, a former 49er defensive specialist, said Gimmillaro’s approach works.

“Just speaking to friends of mine who play for other programs, I know that Brian demands more than a lot of coaches,” Perkins said. “Brian really pushes it, but in a good way. He makes you better.”

With all of Gimmillaro’s accomplishments, you would think he might leave Long Beach for a better situation. But his situation is just fine, Gimmillaro said, not that there haven’t been offers.

California made a serious run at Gimmillaro in February. Long Beach Athletic Director Dave O’Brien, on learning of the offer, created a three-year contract extension that Gimmillaro signed.

Sources said Cal’s offer was more lucrative. But Gimmillaro isn’t struggling financially and his family is happy. Long Beach is where he wants to be.

“There was no question or hesitation in my mind,” Gimmillaro said. “There are several jobs I could have had, and it’s flattering, but this is where I want to be.

“We’re just starting here. This is just the beginning.”