I cringe when I hear high school coaches say, "You've got to have the players."
True, to win championships, you've got to have talent. But let's not fool ourselves here. Coaching separates programs.
Consider girls volleyball on the D-I level in the Central Section:
Buchanan won 7 titles in 11 seasons from 1997-2007. Why? Talent, dedication, athletes from homes with resources and, oh, let's not forget -- coach Marian Battles.
Why, then, did neighbor Clovis West -- with virtually identical demographics and resources -- not win a section title in 29 years until the past two? Simple: Rhonda DeRuiter.
She won six consecutive section D-V championships from 1999-2005 before Clovis West's administration swooped in and pilfered her from Visalia.
That was not a particularly gifted Clovis West team that defeated top-seeded Buchanan 3-1 last night for the D-I crown. But the Golden Eagles had the right coach holding the clipboard.
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