Then there is the internal process of turning around a program -- the creation of a culture of success -- and some would say it is the more difficult yet most critical element of all. Call it 12 becoming one, synchronicity, becoming a team, the whole becoming greater than the sum of the parts.
Yet virtually every student-athlete arrives wanting to start, play major minutes and be the focus of the offense. How does a coaching staff develop the necessary individual buy-in even when all is not necessarily what the players imagined.
His background:
* a B.A. in history at UC Davis
* a Master's in education from Arizona State
* a playing career first as a member of the vaunted De La Salle program and then UC Davis, with a penchant for passes leading to points and taking the ball away from opponents
* a coaching career beginning as a graduate assistant at Arizona State, then as an assistant coach at UC Davis, followed by basketball operations coordinator at Texas San Antonio, Chico State assistant coach, assistant coach at UC Davis again and being an assistant at Rice University before accepting the position in Hayward.
We recently had the opportunity to do a Q-and-A with him.
Q: What specifically is the program/team culture you and your staff are developing at Cal State East Bay?
GA: Our culture is based around high appreciation and low entitlement. Our team has great pride in the university and understands the opportunity they have to represent the Bay Area, their local community, and family. We want student-athletes that are excited about graduating, being special players, and embracing the social experience they can have at CSU East Bay. We feel that the Pioneer brotherhood and family built here is a product of working hard, having great energy daily, and competing at a championship level. Our culture is about relationships- lifelong relationships that transcend sports.
Q: Obviously, there is no off-the-shelf product that you can sprinkle about and instantly have what you desire in the way of tone, beliefs and customs, so what does a new coach do say in his first week in order to begin establishing the culture he desires?
GA: From day one our focus has been to instill a worker mentality. We focus on our academics, practice hard, and lift weights with passion. I want our student athletes to take pride in the amount of sacrifice they have made to be great.
Q: What constitutes the on-going process? How does this get reinforced?
GA: We talk about expecting to win everyday. Thats in practice, shoot around, and games. The most important parts of this are centered around a focus on believing, having passion, and playing hard for your teammates. The most important and often forgotten aspect is that each individual is enjoying the journey and having fun.
Q: “The Butler Way” is defined as:
* Humility – Those who humble themselves will be exalted;
* Passion – Do not be lukewarm, commit to excellence;
* Unity – Do not divide our house, team first;
* Servanthood – Make teammates better, lead by giving; and
* Thankfulness – Learn from every circumstance
What's the Cal State East Bay Way?
GA: On the Basketball Floor:
ATTACK: We want our team to be attacking on both ends of the floor. Pushing the ball in transition and pressuring on defense. A relentless assault on the opposition. This approach is what makes people successful. Take a challenge and make it an opportunity.
AGGRESSIVE: I want their to be an edge to our team that separates us. We constantly talk about having a mindset that you will not be denied. This should be the way we play all night and the way we go about living our lives. Nothing comes easy so you have to follow your dreams and goals with courage.
CONFIDENT: I want our players to play free. The hardest thing to do is to play well when you are cautious. I want our players to know that I believe in them and want them to make plays.
Constants everyday:
COMMUNICATION: I believe in positive, honest, and transparent conversations. I constantly meet with our team members and staff to ensure quality understanding of roles, strategy, and togetherness.
TRUST: Our belief in each other will be forged by followthrough.
ACCOUNTABILITY: The expectations of each member of the Pioneer Basketball team is clearly laid out. The student-athletes expect a high level of achievement from themselves and their teammates.
Q: Does recruiting only a certain type of prospect (one that exhibits the various traits you want to have on your team) play a role in all this? Or is there some wiggle room for bringing in prospects who will need to undergo some degree of change in expectations/actions but not any sort of complete transformation?
GA: We recruit student athletes that represent our vision for Pioneer Basketball. We believe that forcing a fit will only hurt the program. A future Pioneer has to have the proper grades, play with passion and defend, have great character, and fit what we need in the program at that time. Just taking a great talent does not lead to success. They have to share the core of what we think is important to win.
Q: Can a group of individuals play cohesively as a team on the court if, off the court, each one is leaving after a game in the proverbial 12 separate cabs?
GA: I believe that the special teams have a level of friendship that makes a brotherhood. They love their teammates and treat them with great respect. A team that is divided off the floor will never be special and has no chance of being a real winner.
Thank you Coach Argenal.
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