Susan Shapiro has been named the new coach of Gilroy High’s
varsity girls basketball program.
Less than a week on the job – Shapiro was hired Thursday – the
new coach already has a clear sense of where the program is, and
what she thinks needs to be done to take it to the next level.
Shapiro’s understanding is unique in that she has coached many of
Gilroy’s underclassmen for several years.
Susan Shapiro has been named the new coach of Gilroy High’s varsity girls basketball program.
Less than a week on the job – Shapiro was hired Thursday – the new coach already has a clear sense of where the program is, and what she thinks needs to be done to take it to the next level. Shapiro’s understanding is unique in that she has coached many of Gilroy’s underclassmen for several years. She was the head coach of the freshman team this past season and also runs an AAU club team known as the Lady Titans, which Shapiro created three years ago. The Titans are made up of only GHS players.
“That’s the best part of [the job] for me,” Shapiro said. “I’m familiar with the players.”
Despite being new to the varsity position, Shapiro has been in coaching since 1989. She has worked at Hoover Middle School and Lincoln High School in San Jose before coming to GHS last year. During that time, Shapiro noted that she has developed a clear vision of what she would do with a varsity program.
“There will be no inconsistencies,” she said. “Everything will be planned out in the program.”
This would include in-season and offseason training schedules, as well as offensive and defensive systems that will trickle down to the junior varsity and freshman levels.
“I’d like to think I have an absolute passion for this game,” Shapiro said.
“I push the envelope. I make the girls think. My philosophy is leave everything on the court.”
Shapiro will be taking over a program that went 12-14 last season and was knocked out of the Central Coast Section playoffs in the second round by rival, and eventual champion, San Benito.
Note:
After placing second in their last three tournaments, the Lady Titans won the San Francisco Showcase Tournament on April 26-27.
The Titans beat the Santa Cruz Quakes 54-27 in the first game and the South Bay Bandits 48-38 in the second contest. Center Laura Steele contributed 12 points and 13 rebounds in the first victory while Ashley Lambert and Michelle Sosa had eight points each. In the second game, Sovi Nou led the team with 14 points. The Titans dominated the championship game, a 34-11 victory over O.T.G. team from Atherton. Lauren Rhodes had a game-high 14 points and Steele came up with 10 rebounds, her third straight game with double digits rebounding.
