Echo Times

Issue date: 12/15/04 Section: Sports

Coah Valdez scouts talent at a Marin Catholic game

The thundering sound of sneakers racing along the hardwood arena of the College of Marin basketball complex won't be as deafening this year. The COM women's basketball program was canceled until next fall due to lack of players, according to COM officials. When Coach Mike Fulton resigned at the end of last fall's season to take a position coaching at Branson Augie Valdez was hired as the Lady Mariners new skipper. Valdez is on the lookout for new talent. With a dream of points in the paint and nothing but the bottom of the net he has a fresh hope for the future of COM women's basketball.
"We had enough (players) to have a team at first," said Valdez regarding this fall's program. Valdez, former head coach at Encinal High School in Alameda was hired late in the recruiting season. He and his staff were forced to cancel this season's games, as they were unable to recruit enough players after losing the core of their team. "Because of various personal reasons one by one they fell by the way side," he said.
Now the mission is to concentrate on recruiting and build interest for the program according to Valdez.
"We are going to really focus on getting out to watch games," said Valdez. He and his staff are making the rounds in the Bay Area as the high school basketball season kicks off. "We want to look for players that would be a good fit for the program, that will be committed."
Valdez was excited to come to COM when he heard through his friends in the coaching community that the position was opening. "COM has so much to offer," he said. He feels that COM's academic reputation can help in the recruiting process. "We have small classrooms, great support and a high transfer rate."
Valdez hopes to recruit from around the Bay Area but also wants to try and focus on athletes in Marin. "We want to see kids from Marin come and play here," said Valdez. The dream for next year is to have 20 to 30 girls come out for tryouts according to Valdez, but he talked about the reality of the situation. "We need a minimum of 10 (players) but ideally 12," said Valdez.
The love of basketball runs in the Valdez family. His 2 and 4-year-old daughters are showing an interest in the sport. "My oldest went all over this summer with me watching basketball," Valdez said. "I don't want to force them into it but it keeps them out of trouble and teaches them how to work with others."
Valdez and his staff have a positive outlook for the future as they use their connections with local coaches to help with recruitment. "There is nobody we're not going to try and recruit," said Valdez. "If you get in good with the coaches you get in good with the players."
Valdez is focused on doing whatever he can to get the team back next year. "We are going to use any resource we can," Valdez said. He looks forward to seeing the gym filled with athletes come next tryouts. "That's the name of the game," Valdez said. "If you can't recruit you cant win games."

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