Ventura Learned Well Lessons Taught by Larson

Most team members were the same, the coach was the same, but the results were markedly improved.

Ventura High made the biggest U-turn in the county by improving from 4-19 in 1994-95 to 16-10 this season. Credit Coach Dan Larson with staying the course, showing faith in his players and employing discipline even when it hurt the team’s chances to win.

Under Larson, The Times Ventura County boys’ coach of the year, the Cougars continued to improve as the season progressed, winning five of their last seven league games and advancing to the semifinals of the Southern Section Division II-A playoffs.

Ventura’s shining moment came in a quarterfinal against Marmonte League co-champion Westlake. The Cougars defeated the Warriors, 100-95, in overtime to become the only Channel or Marmonte league boys team to advance to the semifinals.

“We really extended ourselves beyond our capabilities in that game,” Larson said. “We beat a better team. We just grew and continued to get better.”

Key to the improvement was Larson holding firm when stars Charles Dixon and Donte Lincoln broke team rules. The pair were suspended for a game against Oxnard--which the Cougars lost.

“They are kids and they made some mistakes in judgment that had to be dealt with,” Larson said. “In the environment I teach and was taught, it’s important to conduct yourself correctly.”

Four starters returned this season, but they had yet to learn to win. Besides Dixon and Lincoln, a pair of 6-foot-6 seniors, point guard Max Costello and off-guard Christian Gallagher were back.

Forward Tim Huerer stepped into the lineup and made a strong contribution.

“We didn’t change a heck of a lot,” Larson said. “I had confidence that kids who failed a lot last year would come through this year. The last eight games we really jelled and played great basketball.”

Larson, 36, is a Ventura graduate who was an All-Southern Section selection and the Channel League most valuable player in 1977 and ’78. The Cougars were 45-6 in those two seasons.

A 6-8 center, he played two seasons at Utah and two at Santa Clara before becoming an assistant coach at Serra High in 1983. Larson took over as head coach in 1985 and remained at Serra until returning to his alma mater in 1989.

Larson’s wife, Ann, is a former All-Southern Section player at Buena who is assistant girls’ coach at her alma mater.