MORGAN HILL -- When Vince Pacheco was hired as the Live Oak boy's basketball coach in September, he already knew about the prestigious history of Acorns athletics.
But Pacheco, 41, was a little surprised while researching the history of his program -- mainly the last two decades. Live Oak has not won a league title in boy's basketball since 1988.
"I couldn't believe it," Pacheco said Tuesday while sitting inside Live Oak Gym. "They had some good teams here during those 20 years. There's a plethora of talent that hides in these hills of Morgan Hill. I'm excited to be here."
Pacheco hopes to channel that talent to Live Oak in the coming years. First, he wants to end the Acorns' championship drought.
"That's our first goal this year. We wrote it down on the wall," said Pacheco, who coached at Yerba Buena during the past five years. "We want to assemble a good team with off-the-court character, too. Second, we're going to fear no team we play against. We'll challenge every team we play."
Pacheco's players have bought in. Under then-coach Joe Bonura, who left the program in summer for personal reasons, Live Oak finished 2-22 overall last year, including a 1-13 record in Blossom Valley Athletic League-West Valley Division play.
"We have the talent to do way better than that," junior guard Cody Gallizioli said. "Coach is being there for us. He's pushing us."
Pacheco's Acorns won't be a run-and-gun squad in 2008-09, but also not a team that walks the ball up the court.
"We'll have an average offensive tempo," he said. "But defensively, we're going to be a high-pressure, man-to-man type of team. We're going to communicate and have fun out there."
The underlying theme is intensity. Pacheco brings that to each practice.
"I don't even remember being sore every day after practice last year," senior post David Beckum said. "For the first two weeks, I couldn't even walk straight."
The intense work ethic has been a catalyst for motivation.
"He has great enthusiasm and the kids like playing for him -- that has stood out the most to us," Live Oak Athletic Director Mark Cummins said.
"He pushes us," junior point guard Michael Schreiber added. "It gives you a lot of confidence knowing your coach believes in you and wants to bring a league title back here."
Live Oak returns to West Valley play in early January, facing many of the same teams from last year. The Acorns host their league opener Jan. 7 against Branham.
"There's no team in this division we can't beat," Pacheco said. "Live Oak has a chance. They've got a real good chance."
Scott J. Adams Scott J. Adams covers Morgan Hill sports for South Valley Newspapers. Send him an email or call him at 779-4106.
Although the Morgan Hill Times does not have any obligation to monitor this board, the Morgan Hill Times reserves the right at all times to check this board and to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to the Morgan Hill Times in our sole discretion and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. The Morgan Hill Times also reserves the right to permanently block any user who violates these terms and conditions. All threats to systems or site infrastructure shall be assumed genuine in nature and will be reported to the appropriate law enforcement authorities. Submission of any comments will be considered permission to use online or in print.
