Veteran Steve Cavalin looks to rebuild competitive program
The Steve Cavalin era is off and running this summer, as the new El Molino boys basketball coach takes aim at re-building a competitive program.
Cavalin, who took the reigns from former coach Ruben Noles following the 2015-16 campaign, comes in with a wealth of experience working with kids at almost every level.
The veteran coach has been patrolling the sidelines for over 30 years, including a stint at Santa Rosa Junior College, 16 years at Cardinal Newman, and recently led the El Mo boys junior varsity team a couple of years ago.
Cavalin didn’t waste any time after landing the Lions coaching job late in the spring, conducting an El Molino basketball camp in June that included about 30 players in the program. Since then the Lions varsity squad has stayed active with participation in the Santa Rosa Junior College Summer League and most recently competed in the Summer Shootout Tournament hosted by Windsor.
“Most of the summer has been spent just getting to know the kids and them getting used to my coaching style and expectations,” Cavalin said. “We only played in one tournament, but it was a good learning experience for the team.”
Cavalin’s first order of business will be to infuse confidence in his players while restoring a winning attitude to a program that’s struggled the past few years.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve been competitive and we have to figure out what it will take to get there,” he said. That is my goal.”
Like any coach worth his or her salt, Cavalin has already begun to assess his team’s strengths and weaknesses, and adjust his strategy accordingly.
“I always tailor my coaching style to the kids that I have,” he noted. “I’d like everyone on the team to shoot the ball and I do like to run, but defense will be my main emphasis.”
Although the Lions figure to add more varsity players to the roster before the winter season, the summer squad included; Jordan Kerkvliet, Shane Spelman, Landon Bienas, Kahelo Daly, Levon Eral, Jack Fricker, Curtis Lewis, Chase Nichols, Erik Nils-Carlson, Jake Peter and Sam Wilson.
