Getty-Shearer Builds Basketball Program at Louisville the Hard Way

The going never got tough for the members of the Louisville High basketball team. It began tough. And it’s stayed that way since Paula Getty-Shearer became coach in 1994.

“I’m trying to build something here,” Getty-Shearer says, almost by way of introduction. “Just give me a few kids who want to work hard.”

She has 11. She has husband Dennis Shearer, her assistant. And, most important, she has support from administrators of the all-girls Catholic school in Woodland Hills. The result: Louisville once again is winning and Getty-Shearer is ready to pose as poster child for the virtue of old-fashioned toil.

Louisville has surged in two seasons under Getty-Shearer, 30. The Royals (15-7, 7-3 in Mission League play) finished tied for second with Notre Dame this season and enter the Southern Section playoffs for the second consecutive year.

Practices under Getty-Shearer, a self-described workaholic, are arduous. “A lot more intense than when I was a freshman,” said junior guard Becky Witt, a three-year varsity player. “There’s a lot more commitment. But she’s made us believe we can [improve] by striving to be the best.”

A few players have walked away. But most have remained.

“Our conditioning program alone scares a lot of girls off,” Getty-Shearer said. “I came right in and talked about mental toughness, running and sit-ups and push-ups and jumping rope and learning to push themselves. But it’s nothing more than they can handle.”

The payoff is victory--something Louisville has been unaccustomed to since a string of five consecutive league titles ended in 1987. For Getty-Shearer, satisfaction includes seeing her philosophy vindicated.

Two years ago, Getty-Shearer was asked to resign after six seasons at Royal, despite posting her first winning record and leading the Highlanders (14-9) to the playoffs.

Her reign was plagued by off-court distractions, including parents questioning her methods. Players, she said, did not openly complain. But administrators told Getty-Shearer she was too tough on players.

“They told me I ran it like a college program,” she said. “I took that as a compliment.”

Getty-Shearer quickly moved on. After considering a few offers, she accepted the job at Louisville because administrators pledged their support.

“I told her I’m very supportive of all my coaches, and if there are any problems or concerns I would be right there for her,” said Marilyn Hyman, Louisville’s athletic director. “One of the nice things here is that we have really supportive parents.”

After going 5-19, Louisville improved to 13-12 last season and finished third in the league. The Royals won two playoff games, including an upset of Fillmore (20-2). This season, Louisville defeated Notre Dame for the first time in several years to signal another milestone.

“The girls know that we’re working hard to get better,” Getty-Shearer said. “It’s just that understanding that I want to get across, that we’ve worked our butts off and now we’ve been able to see something happen.”

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Dee and Kirt Kohlmeier had the best seats in the house the last time the Hoover boys’ basketball team made a run to remember. And both are sitting pretty again.

In 1957, Dee coached Hoover to the Southern Section semifinals before losing to Long Beach Poly. Four-year-old Kirt served as ball boy and never strayed far from his father.

“We had a wooden scorer’s table attached to the bleachers and he would sit beneath it and watch the games,” Dee Kohlmeier, 76, recalled. “His head would just barely touch the top.”

The view is even better these days for Kohlmeier, who on Friday celebrated the Tornadoes’ first Pacific League title since 1984 with a victory over Glendale.

For Kohlmeier, a 1971 Hoover graduate who became coach in 1979, the season has been another memorable run; The Tornadoes (15-9, 8-2) were 0-10 in the league last season, and few figured to see much improvement.

“Our goal was to win the league championship,” Kohlmeier said. “Now, anything else we do is gravy. This is a very special team, a group of guys who really like each other.”

Dee Kohlmeier, who retired in 1990 after 37 years as a coach, teacher and athletic director at Hoover, hasn’t missed a dribble. He assists his son at practice and anchors the end of the bench during games.

“I am probably the luckiest guy in the world to have my dad coaching with me,” Kirt Kohlmeier said. “He knows what he’s doing, the kids like him and I want him there.”