The In 2004, his first year as the Gavilan women’s basketball
coach, Steve Nemeth didn’t get to have a season.
Gilroy – The In 2004, his first year as the Gavilan women’s basketball coach, Steve Nemeth didn’t get to have a season.
“We tried to get it going last year and we only had three names. Nobody stuck around so we decided to pull the plug (on the season) early,” said Nemeth, who was hired to take the place of Mike Girardi who left Gavilan for Modesto College. “It was an unfortunate thing and not the way I wanted to start my head coaching career.”
But this season, the Rams are getting a fresh start.
Nemeth, who had 10 years of experience as an assistant coach before being hired at Gavilan, spent what should have been last year’s season recruiting area players. Of the nine on this year’s roster, all are local.
“It’s definitely a community college team,” Nemeth said.
The program numbers still aren’t ideal, but Nemeth knows it that will take some time. Right now the Rams have seven healthy players.
One of those hurt is former Anzar guard Erika Rodriguez, who through the first few games was averaging 11 points per game. Other local players leading Gavilan include Johni Kiesewetter (San Benito) and Shante Mancera (Gilroy). The duo anchors the Gavilan backcourt with Mancera handling the point.
In the paint, Nemeth hopes to see Antoinette O’Keary develop into a steady presence. The 2003 Gilroy grad also played volleyball for the Rams.
“She’s strong inside and has nice touch on the ball,” Nemeth said.
Unlike the men, the women’s team plays in the North division of the Coast Conference. Through five non-league games, Nemeth said the competition has been challenging for his fledgling group. His goal for the team is to be able to compete more closely with teams as the season progresses.
“I’m optimistic,” Nemeth said. “I’ve got some ideas and that I hope the players will buy into by January. We’ll try to get better and try not to get anybody hurt.”
