Passing the baton Passing the baton (August 06, 2004)

New Lancer athletic director aims to continue legacy of winning

By Colleen Corcoran

It began with a basketball hoop attached to a tree and an orchard clearing used as a football field. Nearly five decades later, St. Francis leads the West Catholic Athletic League with 106 CCS titles.

They practice in two gyms, on a football field with stadium seating for 4,000, around an all-weather track, in the weight room, on the tennis court and in the Holy Cross Aquatic Center.

In 1992-93, St. Francis became the first school to win seven CCS championships in one year. They did it again in 1994-95. And again in 2002-03. This past year, the Lancers claimed four CCS titles, two NorCal trophies, one state and one CCS Scholastic Championship.

"The three emphases at the school are teamwork, sportsmanship and effort," said new St. Francis Athletic Director Mike Pilawski. "We feel that if we do those three things everything else will take care of itself."

On Aug. 1, Pilawski replaced Tim Houlihan as Athletic Director.

During his seven years at the school, Pilawski coached freshman boys basketball, varsity girls golf and junior varsity boys golf. He taught sophomore and senior religion classes and served for three years as Assistant Athletic Director to Houlihan and as Religious Studies Chair.

"Athletic directors don't win and lose games," Houlihan said. They maintain the facilities and hire the coaches that attract high-caliber student-athletes. They carry on tradition. And Pilawski has no plans to disrupt the Lancer legacy.

"When our athletes play, they see [coaches and players] come back year after year. They understand the responsibility that they have to play a certain way to uphold that tradition," he said. "They have an obligation to play in the same light."

While the goals of Lancer athletics will remain unchallenged under Pilawski, the landscape of high school sports is changing.

"High school athletics are no longer the only show in town," Houlihan observed.

Over the past 10 years, club sports and Amateur Athletic Union programs have provided many St. Francis volleyball, softball, water polo and baseball players the opportunity to practice and compete with a team outside of school.

In addition to having experienced athletes, St. Francis' program benefits from having experienced coaches. Coach Nancy Kludt comes to the school from Twisters gymnastics club. A former USA Women's National Team coach, she has led Lancer gymnasts to five consecutive CCS titles. Assistant baseball coach Carney Lansford was a third baseman for the Oakland A's.

Most coaches though are full-time, on-campus employees. And the Athletic Director participates in hiring teachers, who are all required to lead at least one extracurricular activity.

"We have extremely dedicated coaches that really understand the educational process -- not just teach the sport but also teach life lessons," added Pilawski. "The football coach is not only teaching football but also teaching discipline and work ethic."

The school has built a reputation and facilities that attract talented athletes. Players are paired with experienced coaches. Then, teams train to face some of the toughest competition in CCS, if not all of California.

"In the West Catholic Athletic League, all schools ... put emphasis on extracurriculars and athletics in general," Houlihan said. "A lot of the league philosophy is that athletics is very important."

But Pilawski wants to keep things in perspective.

"I think the main thing is that we keep athletics in the proper light," he said. "What we do in the classroom is equally important."

Former baseball coach Chris Bradford's "Sports in Literature" class is no exception.

E-mail Colleen Corcoran at sports@mv-voice.com

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