Meet Lon Rork

New Las Positas Coach Lon Rork has a strong basketball and academic lineage and his plan is to emphasize both those elements as be begins to put his imprint on the 2013-14 Hawks. He's taking over the position held by the late Tony Costello.

Beginning in South Lake Tahoe as a hoops teammate of former California and Kansas guard Jerod Hasse and coached by Tom Orlich (now at Clovis West High), Rork had the academics to enter prestigious Occidental College. He played basketball and also tennis.

Following school, Rork utilized his biology degree and worked in Santa Cruz.

He also enjoyed a taste (or actually a full buffet) of coaching as he took on the tasks of heading the University of Dallas men's and women's tennis and cross country teams while assisting in basketball.

But it was hoops that won out.

Coaching was still the study of life and living organisms but with a different perspective.

The payoff for Rork? ""I love being around the game and working with student-athletes."

In 2002, he became the director of basketball operations at St, Mary's under second-year coach Randy Bennett. The Gaels won nine games the previous season but since then have become a nationally known program.

Then Rork became a physical education lecturer at UC Berkeley and, soon after, joined Coach Steve Coccimiglio's staff at Diablo Valley College. He worked his way up to Associate Head Coach.
Asked for most prominent mentors, Rork offered Tom Orlich and recalled a humorous anecdote. "I told him 'there is a chance I might want to be a coach' and he replied 'Don't do that, you're too smart.'"

He added, "Randy Bennett, for his attention to detail and the structure he put in place and Steve Coccimiglio, who is the best junior college coach in California and does things the right way with the emphasis on helping student-athletes matriculate to four year schools."

Rork also added "Jerod Haase, who is a great friend and the head coach at Alabama Birmingham."

So he's moving over that so-called 18 inches where the spotlight and focus is now all on him. His getting hired earlier this month is unusual timing considering play begins in November.

Rork's initial tasks and philosophy?

"First, I have to learn about the players but everything will be built on defense -- half-court man-to-man."

Off the court, "there will be a focus on academics in order for guys to move on."

Rork is at a level he feels most comfortable and relishes the opportunity: "at a junior college, you can have such a positive impact."

It's Rork time in Livermore.