Meet Gus Argenal

Gus Argenal assumed the duties as Cal State East Bay head coach in late May and it's been a whirlwind of activity for him since then. Recently, we had the opportunity to do an Argenal Q-and-A in order to learn more about who he is and the path to his current position:

Q: Why was it ultimately basketball as your sports passion of choice growing up?

GA: Basketball become my passion because of the fact that you could improve on your own. I could go outside and just play. Basketball is special because you can workout and make great improvements just by finding a ball and a court. My parents supported me with every sport but I couldn't beat the pace of a basketball game.

Q: Why coaching as your life's work and when did you decide to enter into the profession?

GA: I became a coach because it is all about having relationships and friendships. Coaching and teaching are the same. It is my goal to help young men become the people that they want to become and achieve their greatest aspirations as players, students, and people in the community. My father is a cardiologist who saves people's lives daily and that inspires me, I want to do my part and have an impact on society.

Q: Which basketball-related figure(s) had the greatest effect on your life to date and why?

GA: I have worked for some of the great college basketball coaches. Coach Braun and Coach Reynaud at Rice, Coach Les at UC Davis, Coach Clink at Chico State, Coach Thompson at UTSA, Coach Stewart at UC Davis, and Rob Evans at ASU. Each coach has played a major role in my development as a coach and leader and I am grateful to all of them. I have always emulated the coaches that love teaching like Mike Phelps, the longtime head coach at Bishop O' Dowd. But the coach that sparked my interest the most in coaching was Frank Allocco at De La Salle. He is a motivator, innovator, and  most importantly a man of great character and love for his players. If I can influence my student-athletes like he has me, I will have been a success as a teacher.

Q: Moving that so-called eighteen inches over from an assistant's seat to that of a head coach, what's the element of the new position you have found to be most different?

GA: The biggest difference between being the head coach and assistant is the final decision making process. As an assistant, you give input and ideas. Now as a head coach, I can take all the information and have the opportunity to decide what is best for our program. It is a great responsibility.

Q: This probably came up as a question during the interview for the position: what is your vision for Cal State East Bay basketball?

GA: My vision for our basketball program is the same vision shared by our tremendous athletic director Sara Judd. We want to instill Pride in our student athletes and the Bay Area Community. We want high achieving student-athletes that represent our university with class and respect. And if we have that focus we believe that Cal State East Bay should be a CCAA powerhouse and an NCAA contender. We want to attract the best student-athletes in Northern California and all over the country.

Q: If the term style can be used, what will fans see offensively and defensively from your Pioneers?

GA: Our identity will be on the defensive end of the floor every possession. The great programs in our league defend at a high level every single season. Our mindset offensively is to attack constantly, be aggressive, and be confident. We will run a ball screen motion with great pace and floor spacing. Fans will love our speed on the floor and exciting style!

Q: Besides winning games, what other goals do you have for your Pioneer team?

GA: Our goal is to have each individual student- athlete improve their GPA each quarter and achieve the ultimate goal of graduation with a quality degree.

Q: What's been your proudest moment as a coach to date?

GA: My proudest moments in coaching are all of the great friendships I have created with my former players. Getting texts, wedding invites, baby announcements, and keeping strong bonds with all of those special people has made coaching the best career choice for me. I hope that at Cal State East Bay we can create a culture of great pride for our current and future student-athletes. I want the brotherhood and college experience to be exceptional here up on the hill!

Q: How do you teach life lessons to your players?

GA: I teach life lessons through constant communication. I believe that the greatest strength a coach can have is to take the time to communicate and develop an understanding between people through  transparent conversations. These conversations are sometime hard, but by always being honest you show your team that you are real and care. I expect my players to do things the right way and be role models on our campus and community. Hopefully, my players see that I am a family man first, and a coach second.