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Cabrillo men’s basketball season begins

APTOS — The winds of change came sweeping into Aptos last fall, and with them a change of fortune for the Cabrillo College men’s basketball program.

Coach Tony Marcopulos, architect of the changes, took over for interim Cabrillo coach Maz Trakh in April 2000.

The Seahawks season begins tonight at 7 p.m. against visiting Sacramento City College.

"I knew the first year would be difficult," Marcopulos said. "We started with 16 players and ended with eight. Now I feel like the program is starting to make strides."

Because he arrived relatively late on the scene, Marcopulos didn’t have time to put all the pieces in place before the start of this season.

But this year after hiring a full-time assistant, fund-raising through the spring and recruiting this summer, Marcopulos is excited.

Marcopulos turned to the familiar for his new assistant, Derek Olson. The coach had worked with Olson during his 11-year stint as an assistant at the University of the Pacific.

"He was the head trainer for the men’s basketball team while I was there," he said. "It’s hard to find the kind of help I was looking for, and I knew I could trust Derek to do the job."

By day, Olson teaches math at Monte Vista Christian School.

The players who stayed with the program last season learned complacency is not part of Marcopulos’ vocabulary. Their coach came to Cabrillo to rebuild the program, not baby-sit a basketball team.

"I wanted to run the program like a Division I school," he said. "That means working hard on and off the court, in practice and the classroom."

The Seahawks learned to battle and became a team under Marcopulos. Together, they ended the regular season with an 8-21 record, five wins more than during the 1999-2000 season.

The group earned a trip to the northern half of the California Community College Basketball Tournament, where they met, coincidentally,Marcopulos’ alma mater, Columbia.

The No. 4 seeded Claim Jumpers made quick work of the Seahawks, routing them80-53.

Through it all, Marcopulos has kept his enthusiasm for coaching.

His first full year of recruiting has been surprisingly successful, and with it, Marcopulos hopes to lead the Seahawks to the playoffs and beyond.

Hence, the new team motto — "Soaring to New Heights" — which is displayed prominently on the team’s Web page, season schedules and uniforms.

"We have a good cross section of kids on this team," Marcopulos said. "A blend of players from Santa Cruz County and out of the area."

The Seahawks have four returning players — Robert Gomez (G), Dave Torres (G), Joe Williams (G) and Tyler Williams (G, red shirt in 2000-01) — who will provide leadership.

The newcomers — Myree Bowden (6-2, 175, G, Bakersfield-South High), Ryan Borts (5-11, 170, G, Colfax-Mingo High, Iowa), Jeff Barnhart (6-2, 175, West Linn High, Portland, Ore.), Arnold Walton (6-4, 205, F, Bakersfield-Foothill High) and Cliff Tomlin (6-7, 260, C, Wasco High) — realize Marcopulos will ask for everything they have to give.

"I’m not a patient person, and I want to get this program going," Marcopulos said. "The new kids want to be part of the group that turns things around here. If it doesn’t happen, it won’t be for a lack of effort."

With his background — 12 years coaching basketball at the Div. I level, including Michael Olowkandi of the L.A. Clippers — coming to a community college with such apoor track record — Cabrillo hasn’t had a winning men’s basketball season since the 1980s — was risky.

But Marcopulos said he’s here to stay. He bought a home in Scotts Valley and joined the local Rotary Club. He emphasizes this point to prospective players during recruiting trips.

"I tell them that Cabrillo is an outstanding institution," he said. "I say I want people here who want to be here. And I’m not trying to win by putting 15 guys from out of the area on the team."

Marcopulos said to win in the tough Coast Conference, schools need local players on their rosters. But only the right local players.

"Not every local kid is going to want to come to Cabrillo," Marcopulos said. "If we can keep the best-quality locals and bring in kids from the outside, it will be fun."

Marcopulos feels the team will surprise opponents this season, but there’s one aspect he has no control over and that could make a difference between success and failure: local fan support.

"The No. 1, most-important thing at any level is fan support," Marcopulos said. "Playing in front of a bunch of people is more desirable. To get that support on game day is huge."

While ticking off a list of Coast Conference opponents — San Jose City, Saratoga’s West Valley, Hartnell College in Salinas, Monterey Peninsula and Cupertino’s De Anza — Marcopulos smiles.

"I feel like I just got level, like I’m finally even," he said. "And now we have to prove ourselves against these great teams."

Contact Ben McMorries at bmcmorries@santa-cruz.com.

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