From the Desk of Athletics Director Patrick Guillen
Perspectives on the Toros Athletic Department
September 6, 2006

This series of messages is from Athletics Director, Patrick Guillen. It is intended to give viewers of The Toros Online a perspective of the athletic department from its top administrator. Subsequent updates will be posted periodically.

Guillen assumed his position as the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics on November 1, 2005 after serving as the Assistant Athletics Director since 2002, and has led the department to its most successful overall season since its inception in 1968. As the Director of Athletics, Guillen secured several new corporate partners, and through his direction, the 2006 Toros Scholarship Golf Classic brought in the most scholarship dollars in its 16-year history. He serves on a number of boards and advisory committees related to both CSUDH and community work.

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It is hard to believe, but the 2006-07 school year is already upon us. This fall will mark the beginning of my first full year as the Director of Athletics at Cal State Dominguez Hills, and I can’t be more excited and full of anticipation for the games to begin!

But before we look to the coming year, I thought I would give you a review of the 2005-06 year, which proved the most successful in the history of CSUDH Athletics. The results on and off the field proved to me the commitment and dedication of our entire coaching and athletics department administration and staff, and showed that it truly takes all of us working together towards a common goal to produce the kind of results that we have come to expect. And produce we did.

The year was highlighted by a Regional Championship by men’s soccer, two CCAA Coaches and two CCAA Player of the Year awards, five All-Americans, 12 All-Region honors, 36 All-CCAA players and 18 CCAA Player/Pitcher/Athletes of the Week. Two Toro players were drafted professionally in men’s soccer’s Kei Kamara (9th overall pick by the Columbus Crew) and baseball’s Ryan Owen (selected by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 16th round of the Major League Draft, the only CCAA player chosen on day one of the MLB draft).

In addition, six of the 11 sports qualified for NCAA and/or CCAA post-season action, with men’s soccer capturing the NCAA Far West Region Title and softball making it to the Far West Region championship round. Combined with men’s soccer’s Joe Flanagan winning his fourth CCAA Men’s Soccer Coach of the Year honor, baseball’s George Wing taking home his second CCAA Coach of the Year award, and softball’s Jim Maier winning his 200th game as head coach of the Toros in just his 6th season, the Toros were well-represented from fall through winter.

Individually, Francisco Corona established a new high for total points scored in a Toros’ men’s soccer uniform, while Tameka Blue became CSUDH’s all-time leading scorer in women’s basketball history. In the spring, Cindy Perry-Brown finished her four-year career on the softball diamond with 17 records under her name. Baseball’s Jason Klug had one of the most successful baseball seasons in school history, leading the CCAA in batting average, RBIs, hits, and total bases while establishing a new single-season hit streak record (23).

Also, track and field boasted two All-Americans in freshman Meia Tezeno (indoor) and junior Alexandra Anderson (outdoor).

Coach Damaine Powell continues to instill a renewed sense of enthusiasm and excitement with the men’s basketball team. After posting just four wins in their first 14 contests, the Toros reeled off seven wins over their final 13 games to finish 11-16. With nine letter winners returning in 2006-07, CSUDH will look to crack the upper echelon of the always tough CCAA Conference in hopes of making its first postseason appearance since 1987.

Coach Van Girard found how difficult it was to get back to the NCAA Tournament, especially with such a young squad, finishing 15-11 on the year. However, the Toros return a combined 10 freshman and sophomores, adding experience and talent to its incoming class that will look to make it back to the NCAA postseason.

In addition to all the athletic accomplishments, our successes spread beyond the playing field. In the most recent six-year cohort (1998-99) of our student-athletes receiving athletic aid, we continue to graduate above the level of the general student body at CSUDH with 60% of our student-athletes earning their diploma. Considering the fact that nearly 100% of our student-athletes are on a partial scholarship, if any, and that a majority work a part-time job while taking a full class load, this is a very impressive fact, and only proves to me what I already knew: CSUDH student-athletes are students first and are achieving in the classroom, which will serve them well in their future endeavors.

Behind every successful organization are quality people and we are not lacking in this department. CSUDH Athletics is bursting with talented, committed, dedicated, driven and passionate individuals who characterize Cal State Dominguez Hills. You will be hearing from some of these people in this column in the future. Our program also enjoys the support of the CSUDH Administration in President Dr. James Lyons, Sr. and Vice President for Student Affairs, Dr. Boice Bowman, and I am proud to serve under such fine leaders who are not only true advocates of the Intercollegiate Athletics Department, but who also understand its importance.

There have been numerous other highlights and changes within the department since I came on board as the Director of Athletics in November. First of all, I would like to personally thank former baseball head coach George Wing for his 18 years of tremendous service to CSUDH and our student-athletes, not only as a coach but as a mentor and role model as well. He formally announced his retirement from coaching on July 31, and has since become a lecturer and the Director of Intramurals on campus. I am sad to see him go, but he’s ready to begin a new chapter in his life and I wish him the very best.

Along with Skip’s transition, here also is a partial list of highlights:

• finished 5th in the Inaugural CCAA Commissioner’s Cup;
• hosted the most successful-ever Scholarship Golf Classic in June;
• hosted the Inaugural Area Business Luncheon;
• had 63 student-athletes recognized on the 19th Annual National Student-Athlete Day;
• added a new Faculty Athletic Representative, Head Women’s Volleyball Coach, Special Events Director, Marketing & Promotions Coordinator, Sports Information Director and Assistant Sports Information Director;
• held the most successful Toy Drive at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center;
• 53 student-athletes made the spring honor roll, 17 of whom were named to the CCAA All-Academic list;
• had baseball, men’s soccer and softball assistant coach Valerie Long honored by Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald at the 2nd Annual Community Pride Awards.

We continue to dedicate ourselves and all of our resources in making the CSUDH student-athlete’s experience one they remember for a lifetime. We also strive to make it a wonderful experience for our fans, boosters and corporate sponsors. In the coming months you will hear of facility improvements, scholarship enhancements and a broader base of community service activities that are all critical to the overall development of our students.

Over the next several months, I will continue to meet with area businesses, meet alumni and friends who could potentially help us meet our goal of becoming the finest NCAA Division II Athletic Department on the West Coast. This will begin in the immediate future with our membership drive for the Toros Scholarship Association. An application can be downloaded on our web site. It is our goal to have every parent and fan become a member. With the rising costs of equipment, travel, housing and tuition we will need everyone’s help. We boast a rich athletic tradition and we will be creating a strategic plan that will help us reach our goals to ensure the success of our future.

I want to extend my sincere appreciation to our sponsors, both old and new. Much of our success could not be achieved if it were not for your generous support! We look forward to our continued mutually beneficial relationship in the coming year. Your support is a solid investment in the lives of our student-athletes; an investment that will help pay off on the field and in the classroom.

We have come so far in the past ten months, but we have a long way to go. We will continue to grow and excel as a department. Our future is bright and full of promise. I am confident that with the athletic administrative team in place and a powerful support structure on campus, combined with a dedicated and driven coaching staff and student-athletes, you will see us reach many of our goals in the coming year. Just watch!

I look forward to seeing you at the games!

Patrick Guillen
Director of Athletics
GO TOROS