A look at the Cosumnes River College basketball program

Coach James Giacomazzi is in his eighth year heading the Cosumnes River College (CRC) basketball program and if there is one word that captures what he has accomplished during his tenure, it is improvement.

His players get better and that translates into enhanced W-L records, an average of 20 wins a season during his time.

Lest progress be something taken for granted, think about this: how many individual talents, even at the D-1 level, fail to display growth in their skills sets as they advance from year to year?

Unfortunately, the numbers are large.

But Giacomazzi says he has no secret formula.

"We just start with basic fundamentals -- how to properly pass away from defenses, how to catch passes a certain way, how to perform jumpstops and so on," he explained. "It's also about putting kids in position to succeed, maximizing their strengths and minimizing their weaknesses."

Modestly, he shies away from the spotlight's focus. "It's not all me...I'm fortunate to have a lot of help. I have a great coaching staff, a professional who handles strength and conditioning training and another who handles study hall."

Giacommazi recalled an interaction with longtime CRC staffer Travis Parker, who has been a fixture on the campus since 1977. "Early on, he walked up to me and said 'you're a heckuva coach' and I didn't know what to say. I asked why he said that and he responded 'every year, your kids get better.'"    

CRC is a Nike school so the team travels in buses on away trips versus cramming into vans, there's a new weight room and an up-to-date study hall room for the student-athletes, a brand new team room that allows film to be viewed plus new uniforms, sweat suits, and practice gear. Giacomazzi explained, "We do try and run things like a D-1 program."
  
So what twined basketball and coaching and Giacomazzi together?

"My Dad was a high school coach at San Carlos High so I grew up in a gym," he offered. "Growing up, I played soccer, baseball and basketball but I was a 6-foot-5 freshman in high school and basketball was my first love and the best option for moving on."

Giacommazzi played for Coach Guin Boggs (now the head coach of the women's program at William Jessup University) at Washington High in Fremont. His assessment of his high school mentor: "a passionate coach and a great motivator."

Then it was supposed to be heading off to San Jose State but the number of scholarships in D-1 was reduced from 13 to 12 by the NCAA that season so his offer had to be rescinded and an alternate plan developed.

Fortuitously, although not known at the time, Giacomazzi landed at San Jose City College (SJCC), with Percy Carr's longtime program.

Gizcomazzi recalled, "we went 57-12 over two years, winning two Golden Gate Conference championships and we were #1 in California when I was a freshman."

After SJCC, he transferred to UC Riverside to play for venerable Coach John Masi.

Later, the opportunity to play overseas was available but that would have required undergoing knee surgery so Giacomazzi decided to turn to coaching.

His first position was at, yes, San Jose City College, joining back up with Carr but now as a member of the coaching staff.Giacomazzi and Carr became close -- he calls Carr "my mentor" -- offering that "Carr also served as a groomsman at my wedding."

After six seasons at SJCC, the head coach position at Cosumnes River opened up. Giacomazzi applied and got his present job in May 2004.

One thing that Giacomazzi continues to do is maintain relationships -- picking the brains  -- of the respected coaches throughout northern California.

"I respect and follow coaches from all levels who have had success over a long period of time like Coach Carr, Brian Katz (head coach at Sacramento State), Steve Coccimiglio (head coach at Diablo Valley College) and Frank Allocco (head coach at De La Salle High) and others. "In fact, we knocked his [Allocco's) team out of the playoffs when I was a junior but they did it to us when I was a senior."

As for 2011-12, Giacomazzi said, "We've lost some close games early but are 10-5 no."

Here's Giacomazzi describing his players who receives the most minutes:

Tony Baldocchi, 6-foot-2, sophomore (Cardinal Newman)

"A smart, good kid who is shooting 40% from three for us"

Shawn Brooks, 6-foot-3, freshman (Pleasant Grove)

"Shawn was at Citrus College last year -- he got 15 and five today as a starter"

Alan Brown, 6-foot-0, sophomore (Del Campo)

"He was a two guard in high school who we've turned into a point and he's doing a great job and is second in our conference in assists"

Tony Gill,6-foot-9, sophomore (Oakmont)

"Tony's doing real, averaging a double-double and is second in the state in rebounds" -- Gill averaged 17 and nine as a freshman, making the all conference team and has a bunch of D-1 offers in hand.

Eli Hudson,5-foot-10, freshman, (Encina)

"Eli is our back up point and is improving day by day and possesses great quickness"

JJ Mina, 6-foot-6, sophomore (Bradshaw Christian)

"He's now a strong, muscular kid who can shoot and has really developed his skill set"

Fred Mobley, 6-foot-4, sophomore (Oakmont)

"He's coming on of late, he put up 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists recently against Cabrillo"

Ryan Salmonson, 6-foot-10, sophomore (Colfax High)

"Ryan played sparingly last season, got stronger over the summer and started seeing the fruits of his labor in the fall, he put up 39 and 17 against Chabot and came back the next night for 30 and 15, he has so much upside" -- Salmonson is averaging 14 and seven right now

James Tillman, 6-foot-6, sophomore (Pioneer High)

"He was a four last year but now is a three, he's long, bouncy and really runs the floor, he scored 46 points against Mendocino"

Plus point AJ (Monterey Trails) Bridges has transferred in from Fresno City College and will take to the court next season.

Those assisting Giacomazzi on the bench are:

 Assistant Coach Charles Wilder

 Assistant Coach Donnye Ross

 Assistant Coach Nicholas Podesta

 Assistant Coach Jonathan James

 Team Manager Aaron Christensen

Also, Cosumnes River is hosting the state championships this year. Wouldn't that be something, getting a shot to win it all on the home court?