Coach Putting Money Where His Mouth Is

When Beverly Hills boys’ basketball Coach Jason Sanders’ guarantee that his team would make the playoffs for the first time in five seasons failed to put a charge in his players, the coach announced last week that he would donate his $3,500 coaching salary to charity if his team didn’t fulfill his pledge.

That certainly caught his players’ attention.

“I’m probably guessing some people said, ‘What is this guy doing? He must be crazy,”’ Beverly Hills guard Isaac Aftalion said. “I thought, Coach is right with us. I was totally into it.”

Sanders’ guarantee is an offshoot of the fact that he isn’t used to losing. He played for two City Section champion teams at Westchester and took Hollywood to the playoffs in his only two seasons as Sheik coach.

Last year, his first at Beverly Hills, the Normans missed the playoffs after finishing 9-15 and in fifth place in the eight-team Ocean League.

Beverly Hills needs to finish fourth or win 11 games this season to receive a playoff berth. The Normans opened the season 2-2.

“If we don’t make the playoffs, then I shouldn’t be paid,” said Sanders, 26, who said he would donate the money to Sept. 11 relief efforts.

He decided to put his coaching salary on the line after his September assurance of a playoff berth failed to inspire his players. “They were like, ‘Yeah, yeah, we’re going to make it,”’ Sanders said.