Gimmillaro Doesn’t Intend to Slow Down After This Milestone

He started this journey without a clue where he was going. But Brian Gimmillaro wasn’t in a hurry.

Besides, sometimes the biggest accomplishments don’t start out as the best-laid plans. And Gimmillaro, the longtime women’s volleyball coach at Long Beach State, definitely didn’t have a plan.

Of course, his passion for the game was present from the start; teaching and being a mentor was always his joy. That combination has guided Gimmillaro through all the twists and turns that life on college sidelines have to offer.

It has also led Gimmillaro to this: 300 victories.

He can reach the plateau tonight if the 49ers win at Utah. Gimmillaro, the 49ers’ all-time winningest coach, enters the match with a record of 299-88.

“The number 300 is a mark along the way,” said Gimmillaro, who is in his 12th season at Long Beach. “It’s really a tribute to the program here, to all the dedicated athletes and coaches and the support we receive.”

Gimmillaro graduated in 1970 from Long Beach with a degree in economics. He had other options, but the game always had his attention. Working with young people wasn’t far behind.

“But I never thought about reaching [300 victories] because I didn’t know I was going to do this,” Gimmillaro said. “Or do it this long.” Regardless of when he reaches No. 300, Gimmillaro won’t do much celebrating. Likely none at all.

Not that he doesn’t enjoy a good milestone as much as the next coach. It’s just that the victories and the championships and the awards were never what motivated Gimmillaro, he said. It has always been the people.

“I just mostly remember the players . . . that’s the plus on the number and the face on it,” Gimmillaro said. “The victories just mean that we won a good average number of games each year.”

Gimmillaro has won two national titles at Long Beach (1989, ‘93) and guided the team to three final fours. Before making Long Beach a national power, he was a highly successful coach at Cerritos Gahr from 1978-85.

Gimmillaro isn’t done yet. He plans on walking this path for quite a while still. After all, he’s getting pretty good at it. Even without a plan.

“I don’t have plans,” he said, “to do anything else.”

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Great summer: Juaquin Hawkins is a busy guy, thanks to the best summer of his life.

The fun for Hawkins, the former 49er men’s basketball defensive stopper, started during the NBA Summer Pro League at the Pyramid. Hawkins was among the league’s standouts and received invitations to some NBA training camps based on his performance.

But when the Lakers called, Hawkins didn’t believe it.

“I thought I was headed to [the Philadelphia 76ers’] camp when I got a call from my agent and he said to me, ‘Would you like to go to the 76ers’ camp or would you like to go to Hawaii?’ I said, ‘What’s in Hawaii?’ Then it hit me.”

Yep, the Lakers train in Hawaii. Hawkins will be with the team when camp opens Oct. 4 and will battle for the Lakers’ final roster spot.

“I had a long talk with [Laker executive vice president] Jerry West,” Hawkins said. “He told me that he would not have me come to camp if he didn’t think I had a chance to make the team.”

The Lakers see a lot they like in Hawkins, General Manager Mitch Kupchak said.

“We like his athleticism and the way he approaches the game--especially defensively,” Kupchak said. “He’s an absolutely wonderful kid who will work hard. If he’s good enough we’ll find a way to keep him.”

Also this summer, Hawkins has been an extra in three commercials featuring NBA players. He even got to double for Seattle SuperSonic star Shawn Kemp in one spot.

49er Notes

Men’s basketball Coach Wayne Morgan will be introduced to the community at a dinner and dance scheduled Sept. 28 at the Long Beach Marriott. All proceeds will go to the men’s basketball program. Contact Alex Vaughan for more information at (310) 985-0980.

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Coming Attractions

Here’s a look at key games this week for Long Beach State:

* Women’s volleyball: The ninth-ranked 49ers visit Utah in a nonconference match today at 6 p.m. A victory would give 49er Coach Brian Gimmillaro his 300th. Long Beach leads the all-time series with Utah, 7-2. This is the their first meeting since 1988 when Long Beach won at home, 15-9, 15-10, 15-10.

* Water polo: The 49ers open the season against Air Force in the Southern California tournament at Newport Harbor High today at 7 a.m. They play USC at 11:40 a.m.