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Published on 02/15/1999 All articles from this issue

Age isn't stopping coach from winning ball games

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By Pete Borello / Town Crier Staff Writer

Josh Waldorph doesn't seem phased by the fact that he's the youngest varsity girls basketball coach in the SCVAL El Camino Division. The Gunn High coach is reveling in it instead.

"I'm having a great time," the 20-year-old Waldorph said. "It's fun when the other coaches have to shake the little kid's hand after every game."

Fun because most of the time, those older, wiser coaches are having to congratulate Waldorph for beating them.

Gunn is leading the division with an 11-1 record and is 17-4 overall. If the Titans can close out the league season with wins over host Wilcox today (7 p.m.) and visiting Lynbrook Friday (7:30 p.m.), the title is all theirs. Losing either of these games opens the door for second-place Milpitas (9-2) to earn a share of the division crown.

That's something Waldorph desperately wants to avoid.

"I want to win it outright," he said. "We've never won league in school history and I want that plaque on the wall."

When Waldorph says "we," he really means it. His attachment to Gunn goes beyond just being a coach - he graduated from the school in 1996. Waldorph was a three-sport standout at Gunn, excelling in basketball, football and baseball.

He returned to the campus last season as an assistant to girls basketball coach Nina Spears. Spears was fired at mid-season, however, and varsity football coach Jeff Remington took over. Since Remington was new to the program - and to high school basketball - he leaned heavily on Waldorph the rest of the way.

Waldorph started this season as Remington's top assistant, then was promoted to head coach in mid-December when Remington resigned for personal reasons.

Waldorph said his first practice as head coach was a bit strange. After all, he once attended school with seniors Correnda Perkins, Carol Sun and Nikki Gurwith.

"The first time I told them to run liners, it was like, 'Who are you? You used to hang out with me at school,'" he said.

But that strange feeling didn't last long, according to Waldorph. He soon found out that his age could be beneficial to the Titans' cause.

"It's worked out," he said. "I relate to them. It's a very personable and cohesive team."

Although Waldorph would like to return as coach next season, he isn't sure that will happen. He has school and football to think about. Waldorph played tight end at West Valley College this past season and the sophomore hopes to continue his career at a four-year school in the fall. He also wants to pursue a degree in education.

"I want to teach and coach," Waldorph said. "That's why this has been such a wonderful experience."