Max Ward
Ass't. Coach

Harry Bugarin
Ass't. Coach

David March
Ass't. Coach

Anthony Berkenkamp
Ass't. Coach

Damaine Powell, Head Coach E-mail Damaine Powell

Damaine Powell begins his third season as head coach of the men's basketball program.

After roaming the sidelines at nearby Compton College from 1998-2004, a tenure during which he captured two state championships, Powell was given the reigns of the Toros program on August 19, 2004.

"It feels so good to be here," said Powell of his signing. "I am excited to have the opportunity to lead CSUDH and am looking forward to working with the University and athletics administration to build the Toros into a championship caliber program."

Powell enjoyed unparalleled success on the Juco level where he compiled an overall record of 152-60 in seven seasons at Compton College.

The Compton native was believed to be the youngest coach ever to capture a state title when at 24, in his fist year as head coach during the 1997-98 season, he led the Tartars to the championship with a 27-3 record. Powell led the program to a second championship just last year when they defeated American River JC and finished 17-8 on the season. In between his first and last years at Compton, Powell led his cagers to the State playoffs every season, including a semifinal berth in 1998-99.

Powell, who compiled an 18-36 record in his first two seasons in Cardinal & Gold, begins the 2006-07 campaign with two full years of recruiting under his belt, and intends on bringing the Toros back to their winning ways. “CSUDH should be a basketball power,” Powell begins, “and I am going to make sure I do everything I can to make it that."

Prior to Compton College, Powell served on the men's basketball staff at USC from 1995-97 under former Trojan head coaches Charles Parker and Henry Bibby.

During his three seasons, Powell helped the Trojans to a 39-47 overall record, including a 17-11 mark in 1996-97 when USC dropped a 90-77 decision to Illinois in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Under legendary former USC head coach George Raveling, Powell enjoyed two winning seasons from 1992-93 to 1993-94, when the Trojans qualified for back-to-back NIT berths. As a senior co-captain in his final regular season game, Powell connected for the game-winning basket with 2.6 seconds left to propel USC to a 69-68 victory at Oregon State, sending them to the NIT Tournament. During his career, he averaged 2.2 points, 1.0 rebound and 1.6 assists per game.

"Damaine worked as hard as anybody and was a great person to have on our club," says Raveling. "I always felt that one day he would be an outstanding coach, and he proved that at Compton College. I fully expect him to bring success to Cal State Dominguez Hills."

At Long Beach City College, Powell was the South Coach Conference Player of the Year in 1991-92, averaging 9.8 points, 6.4 assists and 2.5 steals per game, leading the Vikings to a 31-6 record and a semifinal appearance in the state junior college tournament. As a freshman, he averaged 4.7 points, 3.9 assists and 2.2 steals for LBCC, which finished 32-5 and made the state championship game.

Powell is no stranger to the Carson campus. A native of the local community who prepped at Long Beach St. Anthony's High School, he grew up in the Torodome shooting hoops and attending legendary and former CSUDH head coach Dave Yanai's basketball camps. Powell, whose mother is a former professor at Cal State Dominguez Hills, intends to bring more than wins to the Carson campus.

"It's almost surreal coming back to campus as the basketball coach," Powell reflects on his hiring. "To come full-circle is humbling, and I am honored to be here. Relationships are what make this University great. Today is one of the proudest days of my life."

Powell received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from USC.

Max Ward, Assistant Coach

Coach Ward begins his sixth season on the sidelines for the Toros. Ward came to the Carson campus from Johnson & Wales University in Charleston, South Carolina, where he served as the head basketball coach and the Athletics Director for one year.

Prior to Johnson & Wales in Charleston, Ward was an assistant coach at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island. There he was responsible for practice management, underclass recruiting, scouting, film exchange and handling day-to-day operations.

As Powell’s top assistant, coach Ward is responsible for practice management, recruiting, scouting and on-floor coaching.

“Max is invaluable to the program,” Powell says of the only holdover from the coaching staff he inherited two seasons ago. “He’s a hard worker, a relentless recruiter and organizes a lot of things for the program. Primarily he works with the guards, but we brainstorm every night about practice and strategy.”

Ward participated in collegiate basketball while at Johnson & Wales, and was named the Most Outstanding Player after his senior season. He was also the Team Captain for two years.

Coach Ward received his undergraduate degree in Hospitality Management in 1998 from Johnson & Wales University in Charleston, SC. He then earned his master’s degree in Organization and Management in 2000 from Johnson & Wales in Providence, RI.

Ward and wife Diana reside in Covina, and welcomed baby Drew into their family on November 4, 2005.

Harry Bugarin, Assistant Coach

Coach Bugarin begins his second year as a Toros assistant coach, after coming to Carson via Osaka, Japan, where he served as an assistant women’s coach at Kansai Daigakku University.

Prior to his collegiate coaching, Bugarin was the head coach at Daito Jr. High School, also in Japan, where in two seasons he led the team to a 15-10 record, bringing them from an 8th place finish his first year to a 3rd place finish his second.

While in Japan, Bugarin was a part of the JET Program (Japanese English Teachers Program) where he taught English to elementary, junior high school, and high school level students.

At CSUDH, coach Bugarin monitors study hall hours, is responsible for film exchange, assists with strength and conditioning, works with post players in individuals, and assists in game management.

Bugarin, about whom Powell says is “lucky to have him on the staff,” is a local product, graduating from Carson High School and attending L.A. Harbor Junior College.

Coach Bugarin received his undergraduate degree from San Diego State, majoring in Public Administration and minoring in Africana Studies. Currently he is working on his master’s degree in Asian/World History at Cal State Long Beach.

Bugarin is single and resides in Carson, CA.

David March, Assistant Coach

Coach March begins his first season on the sidelines after nine years of coaching experience on the southern California high school level.

March, who earned two bachelor's degrees from Cal State Long Beach - BS in Business Administration (2001) and a BA in Kinesiology/Single Subject Credential in Physical Education (2006) - most recently completed a two-year stretch as the varsity assistant coach on the sidelines of El Segundo High School, from where he graduated in 1996.

As a first-year coach, March’s primary responsibilities are to actively monitor academics, and work with the post players. March also is active in recruiting, working with the scout team and game management.

Prior to ESHS, March was the varsity assistant at St. Monica High School from 2001-03, after his first stint as the varsity assistant / junior varsity head coach at El Segundo from 1997-2001.

While on the staff of El Segundo, ESHS qualified for CIF six-consecutive seasons, during which they captured two league titles, while at St. Monica, the Mariners reached the CIF in both seasons under March’s leadership.

March also has vast experience in camps and youth leagues, having organized and run both for the cities of El Segundo and Manhattan Beach.

March is single and lives in Torrance, CA.

Anthony Berkankamp, Assistant Coach

Coach Berkankamp begins his first year on the Toros sidelines after a two-year stint on the sidelines as the JV assistant coach at Culver City High School from 2003-05, and a one-year appointment as the head coach of Venice Airborne, a travel team of players ages 14-17 during the 2003-04 season.

As a coach at Culver City HS, Berkenkamp’s squad boasted a 15-1 record, including a perfect 10-0 mark in the Ocean League Conference, while his Venice Airborne team earned its place in the squad’s first-ever championship tournament, winning 65% of their games that season.

A two-sport student-athlete as a student at Culver City HS (basketball, tennis), Berkenkamp was a regular selection on the honor roll.

Berkenkamp is scheduled to receive his degree in kinesiology from CSUDH in May 2008.