All Entries in the "Basketball" Category
Men end season with loss
By ANDRIA SKANSE
The Pima Community College men’s basketball season came to an end Feb. 24 when the Aztecs hosted Arizona Western College.
Unable to turn things around after the first half, the team fell 82-56.
Sophomore guard Stefan Orepeza scored a team-high 13 points for the Aztecs, while freshman guard Rodney Clark contributed 11.
Freshman guard Domineik Banks had eight points, six assists and six rebounds in the loss.
On Feb. 21, Pima narrowly lost to Glendale Community College, 86-82.
The Aztecs failed to make the playoffs, finishing the season with an overall record of 4-25.
The Aztecs have had three different head coaches in three years.
The head coach this season was Gabriel Van Guse, a former assistant head coach at Yavapai College.
Women’s basketball: Two steps closer to playoffs
By TESSA CASE
The Pima Community College women’s basketball team recently pulled out two home victories and dropped a road contest to put them at 17-10 for the season.
The No. 19 Aztecs defeated Mesa Community College 65-42 on Feb. 8. The team was led by freshman A’jha Edwards who had 24 points and 15 rebounds. Sophomore Na’Derra Carey also added 16 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds.
The Aztecs defeated South Mountain Community College 71-59 on Feb 15.
Edwards notched another double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds. Carey tallied 12 points, six rebounds, seven assists and three steals.
Sophomore forward Tyahnna Higgs chipped in 12 points as well.
The squad fell to Eastern Arizona College on the road falling 77-63 on Feb. 18. Edwards scored 15, while Carey finished with 12.
Higgs believes her team is ready for the regional playoffs, which begin Feb. 27.
“Since the season is coming to an end, our focus has gotten more intense every day,” Higgs said. “The freshmen have improved mentally and physically with their game. We are also more aggressive with our opponents. We’re ready to go.”
PCC was scheduled to play Glendale Community College on Feb. 21. The game took place after Aztec Press went to press.
Sophomore Na'Derra Carey goes up for a layup against Mesa Community College. Photo by LARRY GAURANO
Pima falters with two games left
By ANDRIA SKANSE
The Aztecs came up short in their Feb. 15 game against South Mountain Community College, losing 105-97. Although they couldn’t pull off the win, the Aztecs had five players score in double figures.
Sophomore Jason Timpf was a standout player, scoring 31 points and snagging 14 rebounds. Freshman Domineik Banks had 16 points and 11 assists while freshman Rodney Clark netted 20 points and six rebounds.
The Aztecs suffered another loss Feb. 18 against Eastern Arizona College, losing 93-57. The game was a struggle from the start and the Aztecs found themselves down 42-27 at halftime.
Timpf again led the team with 16 points and eight rebounds. Banks also had another impressive game with 13 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
The team was scheduled to play Feb. 21 against Glendale Community College after the Aztec Press went to press.
The season is coming to an end as the Aztecs have only two games left in the regular season
Freshman Dominiek Banks powers past a South Mountain Community College defender. Photo by LARRY GAURANO.
Aztecs drop tough game
By ANDRIA SKANSE
The Pima Community College’s men’s basketball season has been anything but a slam-dunk.
The Aztecs lost a tough battle on the road against Tohono O’odham Community College 98-90, on Feb. 7. After trailing 49-39 at halftime, the Aztecs fought back and closed the gap in the second half. However, they were unable to overtake the solid play and hot shooting of TOCC.
Freshmen guards Domineik Banks led the scoring attack with 26 points. Rodney Clark added 21 points. Sophomore guards Chad Arechiga and Kris Lee also scored in double figures, with 15 and 12 points respectively. Banks also had seven assists and four steals.
Sophomore forward Jason Timpf had a solid game with eight points and 11 rebounds.
PCC hosted Central Arizona College Feb. 1, losing 108-105. The nail biter went into overtime with the Aztecs unable to clench the victory.
The team played Feb. 8 against Mesa Community College, which is 14-8 this season. The game took place after the Aztec Press went to press.
Photo by Larry Gaurano
One month later and still no win
By ANDRIA SKANSE
Pima Community College men’s basketball team took on Chandler-Gilbert Community College on Jan. 21 but still has yet to win a game in over a month.
The Aztecs experienced a heartbreaking defeat, 106-68 against the Coyotes.
Pima’s last win was Dec. 7 against Tohono O’odham Community College winning by 24 points.
Arizona Western College proved no different as PCC lost 52-71, Jan. 18.
Pima fell short on Jan. 14 against Glendale Community College, as they were unable to get the win yet again.
GCC won the game 90-59 presenting PCC with another upset.
Pima has four returning players this season, including two guards and two forwards. Tucson natives guard Stefan Oropeza and forward Jason Timpf. Also returning from Durham, N.C. guard Kris Lee and from Phoenix forward Shabaz Lewis.
ON DECK
Jan. 28: @ Phoenix College, Phoenix, 4:00 p.m.
Feb. 1: Central Arizona College @ Pima
Feb. 4: @ Tohono O’Odham Community College, Sells, Ariz. 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 8: @ Mesa Community College, Mesa, Ariz. 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 11: Cochise College @ Pima, 4 p.m.
Larry Gaurano/ Aztec Press
Byrd dumps 39 on Tohono O’Odahm
By MEGYN FITZGERALD
Pima Community College’s men’s basketball team broke a two-game losing streak on Wednesday, Dec. 7. Pima had four players score double-digit points in the home game against Tohono O’Odahm CC.
Freshman guard Javont Byrd led all scorers with 39 points. Freshman forward Charles Croxen scored 10 points while sophomore forward Shabaz Lewis and freshman guard Domineik Banks both put in 16 points in the 107-83 win.
PCC was unable to defeat Central Arizona College on Dec. 3.
The 108-76 conference loss brought the men’s record to 2-6 on the season and 1-3 in conference play.
Aztec freshman guard Rodney Clark continued to lead the way in scoring for Pima with 26 points in the road loss.
Sophomore guard Chad Arechiga helped out by contributing 12 additional points. Byrd and Lewis chipped in 10 points each in the game.
On Nov. 30, Pima played without head coach Gabriel Van Guse, who was serving a suspension for committing two technical fouls in their previous game. Assistant coach Chris Klassen filled in for Van Guse in the home game against Phoenix College.
Arechiga led the way for Pima as he managed 19 points in the 78-66 loss.
Eight games into the season, the Aztec’s scoring leader is Clark, who is averaging 14.25 points per game. Clark does most of his damage from beyond the three-point arc, knocking down 26 three-pointers this season.
Clark’s 114 points are tops on the team but teammate Byrd is not far behind, averaging 12 points per game with 96 on the year.
Freshman guard Emery Range is leading the team in rebounding with a 4.6 per game average.Range also leads the team with five blocks this season.
Banks is leading the team with 22 assists, averaging just under three per game. The freshman guard is also contributing on defense, with a team-leading 16 steals this year.
On Deck
Dec. 9: @ Sells vs. Salt Lake City CC, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 10: vs. Mesa CC, 4 p.m.
Dec. 16: vs. New Mexico Junior College, 7 p.m.
Aztec guard Buka Sebastian
NBA finds key to end lockout
By LaBREAL YOUNG
After 149 days, National Basketball Association owners and players made a deal.
Of course the argument was over money, causing the season to postpone and forcing fans to watch the next most entertaining sport, football.
The owners got their way, after claiming they lost $300 million last season. Now owners and players will split profits 50/50. This way, the owners will have a chance to make back every cent of those losses.
The players also get some of these winnings and won on issues like minimum team salary and escrow.
A 66-game season will begin on Christmas Day, giving NBA fans the best gift they could ask for.
Games will be scheduled more frequently, often back to back. This should be nice for younger teams like the Thunder. Older teams like the Spurs or Lakers might not be able to keep up.
Anything to prevent the Lakers from getting that ring, I am OK with.
To put the icing on the cake, we’ll be able to watch the University of Arizona’s very own Derrick Williams ball in the big league with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Most importantly, though, the highly anticipated annual All-Star game will still follow through as planned. It will be held on Feb. 26, 2012.
It took awhile but, hey, the NBA’s back!
Aztecs open conference play with two victories
By JOEL GANTT
The Pima Community College women’s basketball team got the conference season rolling with back-to-back conference wins.
“I like the way we’re competing,” head coach Todd Holthaus said. “we still have areas where we can improve.”
PCC played their first conference road game on Nov. 19 against Scottsdale Community College. Sophomore point guard Naderra Cary returned from an ankle injury and played well scoring four points with six assists and 11 rebounds.
Sophomore forward Tyahnna Higgs and freshman guard Desiree’ Phillips were the team leaders with 11 points each. Higgs also had eight rebounds.
Freshman center A’jha Edwards earned a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Pima was able to hold SCC to just 13 points in the second half and won their second straight conference game with a score of 47-33.
“We have a lot of freshman that are getting used to the game speed of college basketball,” assistant coach Ken Leikem said.
PCC opened up conference play on Nov. 16 against the Chandler-Gilbert Community College Coyotes. The Aztecs impressed the home crowd with a 20-point victory.
PCC was without veteran point guard Carey, who sat out with an ankle injury. Freshman guard Ashlei Scott filled in with 10 points.
Higgs made seven of 10 shots and led PCC with 14 points. Edwards had 13 points, five rebounds and two blocked shots. Phillips also scored 13 points in the 77-57 win.
The Aztecs played their first home game of the season against the Davis Monthan Air Force Base Mustangs on Nov. 10.
“We missed a lot of free throws against Davis-Monthan,” Holthaus said, “with Carey out the team didn’t have their go-to player.”
Pima started the game strong and led 34-29 at halftime. Higgs led the Aztecs in scoring with ten points while freshman forward Mya Perrow Donovan had eight points and 13 rebounds.
As a team the Aztecs shot 20 percent in the second half and lost the game 63-59.
PCC is now 2-0 in conference and 3-3 on the season; they will continue conference play when they host the Phoenix College Bears on Nov. 30 at 5:30 p.m.
Aztec freshman guard Ebonee Rhymes.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Tourney ‘a good challenge’
By JOEL GANTT
The Pima Community College women’s basketball team started its season with one win and two losses during three challenging tournament games in Hobbs, N.M.
“The New Mexico tournament is filled with Division I competition,” head coach Todd Holthaus said. “It is a good challenge for us to start the season.”
Freshman forward Mya Perrow Donovan, a team leader in points and rebounds all weekend, was named to the All-Tournament team.
Pima played its final game of the tournament on Oct. 5 in a 56-88 loss against New Mexico Junior College, a National Junior College Athletic Association Division I opponent.
After a tough opening half, the Aztecs kept pace with NMJC in the second half thanks to freshman center A’jha Edwards. She had a team-leading 10 points and eight rebounds in the game.
Sophomore forward Tyahnna Higgs was the Aztec’s second-leading scorer with nine points. She also had four rebounds.
Donovan had six points and eight rebounds.
On Oct. 4, Pima dominated Lubbock Christian University’s junior varsity squad. Pima led 52-17 at the half and did not let up. The final score was 96-26 in the Aztec’s first win of the season.
Edwards posted her first career double-double, leading all players with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Sophomore guard Naderra Carey had a solid game with eight points, five rebounds and five assists. Sophomore guard Alyssa Wilson contributed 12 points
The Aztecs’ season opener Oct. 3 was against NJCAA Division I school Western Texas College of Snyder, Texas. Pima lost 50-65.
Donovan led the team with 10 points and eight rebounds. Sophomore Higgs also played well with eight points and five rebounds.
The Aztecs play their first home game of the season against a Davis Monthan Air Force Base team on Thursday, Oct. 10, at 6:30 p.m. in the West Campus gymnasium.
Admission to the game will be $5 for adults and $3 for Pima students.
Kellie Miller, freshman forward, tries for points in a scrimmage game.
Men’s Basketball: Aztecs rebound after first loss
Men start season 1-1
By MEGYN FITZGERALD
The Pima Community College men’s basketball team dropped the season opener Nov. 4 in a 92-75 loss against Westwind Prep, but redeemed themselves the following day with a 93-74 win against Arizona College Prep.
In Pima’s first win of the season, freshman guard Jaleel Grey led the way for the Aztecs by scoring 27 points.
Freshman guard Emery Range scored 13 points while also grabbing eight rebounds and making three blocks.
Pima out-rebounded ACP 58-39 and forced 30 turnovers.
Sophomore guards Kris Lee and Vonchae Richardson each contributed 11 points. Richardson came close to a triple-double by also chipping in nine rebounds and seven assists.
On Nov. 4, freshman guard Javonte Byrd played well in his college debut, scoring 19 points, grabbing four rebounds and contributing three assists.
Sophomore guard Vonchae Richardson scored 18 points in the loss. Freshman guard Domineik Banks also scored in double digits, bringing in 12 points for the Aztec men.
The Aztecs will travel to New Mexico on Nov. 11 to take on New Mexico Military Institute. They’ll play Odessa College the next day.
Returning player Stefan Orepeza takes on his opponent in 2010.
ATHLETIC VOICE: Simple solutions for NCAA scandals
By JAMES KELLEY
It is the best of times and the worst of times for big-time college sports.
While NCAA conferences sign record TV contracts and pack stadiums, scandals at schools like Auburn, Louisiana State, Connecticut, North Carolina, Oregon and Southern California pile up.
Most recently, Yahoo! exposed the biggest scandal of this century, making University of Miami the top candidate for NCAA death penalty sanctions.
Solutions are simple, but they’re based in common sense. That’s something lacking in the NCAA, whose rule against giving athletes cream cheese for their bagels recently became infamous.
The NCAA needs to get some of the money out of big-time college sports.
How often do you hear of scandals in high school, junior college or lower-division sports? Never? Once in a blue moon?
What’s the difference? Is it that the Aztecs don’t want to beat Yavapai teams? No… it is the influx of money and its corrupting influence.
Although college scandals are out of control, they pale in comparison to the pros, which was long ago corrupted by money. Most college scandals involve players getting money or gifts. They rarely match professional athletes charged with rape, assault, DUI, domestic violence or dog fighting.
The NCAA needs to cap spending. Schools like Oregon are buying championships. There is no need for a six-story $41 million football building, especially when Oregon’s facilities are already so plush.
Cap how much universities can spend and the arms race will end.
A cap would remove the need for university officials to constantly hit up boosters for money.
ESPN and Sports Illustrated columnists called Miami boosters like Nevin Shapiro “jock-sniffers.” If schools don’t need the boosters, jock-sniffers will have no opportunity to hang around college athletes.
Cap coaches’ salaries as well. Again, this will limit the influence of boosters and put less pressure on coaches. There is a hell of a lot more pressure on coaches making $4 million a year than ones making $400,000.
When coaches need to win, they are more apt to look the other way. Former Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel is essentially accused of sticking his head in his sweater vest to ignore his players violating the rules.
Money may or not be the root of all evil, but it is the root of these evils.
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Summer recap: Aztec sports ranked no. 22 in the nation
By MYLO ERICKSON
Daniels photo by ED ADAMS
Contreras photo by JAMES KELLEY
Pima Community College stayed in the top 25 of the national ranking of athletic departments, but slipped a bit.
In the 2010-11 rankings, PCC dropped six spots, to No. 22 from its all-time best No. 16 in 2009-10. The National Alliance of Two Year College Athletic Administrators ranked the two year schools that give scholarships by their performances at Nationals last year.
Again the Aztec women led the way, earning a total of 55.5 points, after 41 last year and the men earned 15, down from 28.5.
Arizona Community College Athletic Conference rivals Central Arizona College and Mesa Community College both finished in the top 20. Central finished eighth with a total of 101.5 and Mesa was No. 16 with a total of 73 points.
Hall of Fame honors Deanna Daniels
Pima ended their 2010-11 season women’s basketball on a high note, finishing runner-up at Nationals and its superstar was honored by the hall of fame.
Deanna Daniels
Sophomore forward Deanna Daniels was Pima’s top player all season long and in May the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame requested her home jersey to be displayed in Knoxville, Tenn.
Daniels earned numerous awards, like first team All-American and CAT Power Player Award at Nationals, averaging 18 points and 14 rebounds.
Softball team falls in Regional title game
The softball team came up one run short of a trip to Nationals in extra innings and an upset of eventual national Champion Yavapai College on the road at Regionals.
Second seeded Pima (51-14) dropped the first championship game of the double elimination Regional tourney 3-2 to top seeded Yavapai College in the bottom of the ninth and then the second championship game 12-3. Pima’s arch rivals ended the Aztecs’ season in the Regional championship game for the third year in a row.
After leading the ACCAC in strikeouts, freshman pitcher Mari Contreras (30-3) earned first team All-American honors by the National Junior College Athletic Association. Also on the first team of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-West Region was freshman utility Jessica Schneider.
Sophomore catcher Charissa Ballesteros and sophomore first baseman Mercedes Garcia were All-West Region 2nd Team.
In other Pima softball news, the University of Arizona hired Yavapai head coach Stacy Iveson, returning the former Pima coach to Tucson after her fourth NJCAA National Championship and her second in three years. Former Aztec Lisa Parks was named her replacement.
Parks was a two time All-American at Pima, leading the Aztecs to the 2004 National Champions, one of two national titles won by Iveson at PCC, the other in 2006.
Baseball swept by Central in first round
The baseball team’s return to the playoffs was short lived.
The fourth seeded Aztecs’ (29-27) return to the playoffs after a four year hiatus ended in two games after being swept on the road by top seeded Central Arizona in the Regional semifinals. The Vaqueros won the first of the three game series 4-1 and then the second 8-0.
Central finished second at Nationals.
Track and field finish 18th and 21st at Nationals
Women’s track and field finished 18th at Nationals and the men’s team finished 21st.
For the men, freshman Dylan Moeykens finished fourth in the decathlon. Sophomore Christian Tovar and freshman Chris Howard finished seventh and eighth respectively in the shot put and sophomore Frederick Scarber finished 10th in the high jump.
The women’s 4×800 relay team, freshman Mary Cozby, sophomore Brianna Fugere, freshman Elizabeth Romero and sophomore Janeen Yazzie finished in fifth place.
Sophomore Ashley Dorado placed sixth in the 400 meter hurdles, freshman Jaqi Bell finished eighth in the javelin and Cozby tenth in the 1500 meter run.
At Regionals the women placed 3rd and the men 4th.
Mari Contreras
Women’s tennis earns best-ever Division I finish
The women’s tennis team finished off their season at the Reffkin Tennis Center in Tucson at the 2011 NJCAA National Tournament where they earned their best ever Division I finish, 15th.
Pima’s No. 1 singles player, freshman Tatum Rochin, won her consolation bracket defeating her opponent 8-2.
The No. 1 doubles team of Rochin and freshman Victoria Bravo and the No. 2 doubles team of sophomore Lydia Carlson and freshman Olivia Cole-Encinas both made it to the finals of their consolation bracket.
Rochin and Bravo lost 8-6, while Carlson and Cole-Encinas lost their match 8-4.
Fifteenth is the women’s best finish since moving into the NJCAA Division I in 2004.
Men’s tennis finishes 13th at Nationals
Pima Community College men’s tennis team ended their season 13th at the 2011 NJCAA National Tournament in Plano, Texas.
Their No. 1 player, sophomore Alan Barrios was eliminated in his consolation bracket final by scores 7-5 and 6-4. No. 5 freshman Jacob Nino ended up winning his consolation bracket with a score of 6-1 and 6-3.
Pima also had a good performance out of its No. 1 doubles team pair of sophomore Andrew Barnett and freshman Timothy Holten. Barnett/Holten won two matches on the final day to claim the top of their consolation bracket against College of Dupage (Ill.) 6-4 and 7-6 and McHenry (Ill.) College 7-6 and 7-5.
Men’s golf finishes 20th at Nationals
Aztec men’s golf ended the 2011 NJCAA National Golf Tournament in 20th place overall.
Pima shot a total of 1220 as a team over the four day tournament.
Sophomore Mark Ontiveros was the top Aztec as he finished the four days with a shot total of 300 which was third best among all ACCAC competitors and good enough to earn him a tie for 37th place.
The next finishes for Pima were sophomore Robert Perrott III who finished in a tie for 63rd place with a total of 305, freshman Adam Ortiz finished in 75th with a total of 309, and sophomore Anthony Grijalva placed 85th overall with a score of 311.
Women’s golf duo finishes 40th and 64th at Nationals
Aztec women’s golf finished off their season at Nationals in Daytona, Fla.
The only two representatives were freshmen Alyssa Vega and Chloe Treece.
Overall, Treece tied for 40th place with a four-day total of 350. Shooting 96 on the first day, a 86 on the second, 79 on the third and 89 on the final day.
Vega finished off her season in 64th place with a four day total of 376. She shot 94 on her first day, a 90 on the second, a 97 on the third and a 95 on the final day.
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PCC hires former Yavapai assistant coach to head men’s basketball
Story and photo by JAMES KELLEY
Pima Community College has picked former Yavapai College assistant coach Gabriel Van Guse as its new men’s basketball head coach.
On July 14, the PCC Board of Governors approved the selection of Van Guse to be the Aztecs’ third coach in three years. Yavapai eliminated its men’s and women’s basketball programs last February because of state budget cuts.
Van Guse replaces Roderick Gary, who stepped down after one season. Gary replaced Karl Pieroway, who resigned after two seasons.
Van Guse will be a part-time employee.
At Yavapai, Van Guse was in charge of the Roughriders’ defense and coached the guards. He was also in charge of recruiting, looking for players in Washington, Oregon, Northern California and Arizona. Pima does not recruit out-of-state athletes.
James Pierce
Last year, the Aztecs went 5-23 and 2-20 in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference. They lost to Yavapai (11-19, 8-14) 103-95 in Prescott and 80-75 in Tucson.
Van Guse was an assistant coach at YC for two years, after leading the Prescott (Ariz.) High School boys’ varsity squad and the Joseph City (Ariz.) High School team.
Van Guse graduated from the University of Washington Tacoma with a degree in philosophy, and attended Tacoma Community College.
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Coaching carousel
Sept. 2003: Brian Peabody hired
May 2004: Peabody resigns
Oct. 2004: Mario Ramirez hired
March 2008: Ramirez fired
June 2008: Karl Pieroway hired
April 2010: Pieroway resigns
May 2010: Pieroway rehired
May 2010: Pieroway resigns
July 2010: Roderick Gary hired
April 2011: Gary resigns
July 2011: Gabriel Van Guse hired
Hall of Fame honors Deanna Daniels
May 29 PCC press release
Aztec Press photo and video by JAMES KELLEY
TUCSON, AZ – The Pima Community College women’s basketball team closed out the 2010-11 season with a National Tournament runner up and an overall record of 28-7. Deanna Daniels was the Aztecs top performer all season long and the 5’10” forward has been summoned by the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame as they have requested her home jersey for display in Knoxville, Tennessee.
“D had what could possibly be the best individual year in school history,” said head coach Todd Holthaus. “This is an amazing honor and she really deserves it.”
The Las Vegas native (Centennial HS) averaged over 18 points and 14 rebounds and earned numerous honors for her play during the regular season, Region I Tournament and the NJCAA National Tournament. The sophomore-transfer attended PCC for one season where she maintained a 4.0 grade point average and she will continue her academic and basketball careers at NCAA DII powerhouse, Grand Canyon University.
Deanna Daniels
THE DANIELS FILE
All-ACCAC, 1st Team
ACCAC, Div. II, Player of the Year
All-Region I, Div. II, 1st Team
Region I Tournament, Most Valuable Player
NJCAA National Tournament, All Tournament Team
NJCAA National Tournament, CAT Power Player Award
NJCAA All-American, 1st Team
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Men’s basketball: Gary resigns after one rough season
By NARCISO THOMAS VILLARREAL
Photo by ED ADAMS
Pima Community College will need a new men’s basketball head coach after Roderick Gary resigned after just one season because he was too busy in his other PCC job.
Gary, who is also a program manager of the Information and Outreach team at Pima, said he resigned for personal reasons. Gary is Pima’s second men’s basketball head coach to resign in as many seasons.
“It’s a full-time job, and I have a full-time job at the college. And there’s just not enough time in the day to do two full-time jobs,” Gary said in a telephone interview. “You have to balance your time, and you have to be able to do both jobs well.”
The team finished the season at 5-23 overall and 2-20 in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference. The Aztecs also ended the season on a 16-game losing streak.
The losing season came one year after the team placed seventh at the 2010 National Junior College Athletic Association men’s Division II national basketball tournament under Karl Pieroway.
Pieroway stepped down in April, was briefly rehired, then resigned a second time last May.
Gary said the losing streak did wear on him.
Roderick Gary
“Sure. Sure. You know it’s hard losing all those games,” Gary said. “It’s hard on your emotions. It’s hard on you mentally.”
Pima has hired three coaches in the last three years and four in the last six.
“We have a lot of positive things going on in athletics that reflect well on the school,” Edgar Soto, executive director of athletics, said via e-mail.
He said the position will be advertised through May 11. Once the position closes, the candidate selection process begins.
“I’m confident that we will find a basketball coach who will impart to our student-athletes the positive attributes needed to win on the court and to be productive citizens off it,” Soto said in the e-mail.
He and the athletic department hope to have a candidate ready to recommend to the Board of Governors for approval in June, Soto said. Last year, Gary was not hired until July.
Coaching carousel
Sept. 2003: Brian Peabody hired
May 2004: Peabody resigns
Oct. 2004: Mario Ramirez hired
March 2008: Ramirez fired
June 2008: Karl Pieroway hired
April 2010: Pieroway resigns
May 2010: Pieroway rehired
May 2010: Pieroway resigns
July 2010: Roderick Gary hired
April 2011: Gary resigns
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