By Paul Doherty Sports Editor Morgan Hill – In the way Mike
Krzyzewski of Duke University and Bobby Knight of University of
Texas have implemented their unique coaching styles leading their
teams to national prominence, the new Live Oak boys basketball
coach is looking to make a mark.
By Paul Doherty
Sports Editor
Morgan Hill – In the way Mike Krzyzewski of Duke University and Bobby Knight of University of Texas have implemented their unique coaching styles leading their teams to national prominence, the new Live Oak boys basketball coach is looking to make a mark.
Through discipline, offensive execution and consistent rebounding efforts, Joe Bonura has a vision to make the Acorn basketball program championship quality.
Bonura coached the boys junior varsity team at San Benito High School in Hollister for seven years leading the team to a 9-3 record in 2005, and helping sophomores and juniors evolve into good varsity players.
With a new offensive strategy Bonura hopes to bring a new spirit to the Live Oak basketball program.
“We’re going to get up and down the floor, and it should be an exciting team to watch,” Bonura said.
With summer league coming to an end this week, Bonura is attending the team’s last games as an assistant coach to get an idea of what he has to work with for the upcoming season.
“I’m looking forward to building relationships with the players … I’m here for the kids,” Bonura said. “I’ve enjoyed my seven years working with the kids not only because of my love for the game but also because of the life lessons, and being able to teach the kids how to do things the right way.”
Bonura considers himself a basketball junkie who watches and sees it all, and has innovated to create his own style of coaching.
Besides Coach Kryzewski and Bobby Knight, Bonura references Tom Izzo of Michigan State as a great coach.
“I like how he (Izzo) runs a lot of set plays and how his players still have the freedom to create on offense,” he said.
Taking notes on the most effective college high school coaches, Bonura has incorporated what works for them to his own offense.
Bonura runs the innovative and self-created “Gator” offense which takes advantage of mismatches and keeps the players constantly moving.
“It’s worked really well at the junior varsity level and the kids at San Benito love it,” he said. “Our team this year is mostly a perimeter oriented team, and I think this offense will give the players a lot of freedom.”
A 1990 graduate from Live Oak, Bonura was the center for the Acorns during his playing days, and was named MVP his senior year.
At Gavilan College Bonura found himself among taller players and switched positions to guard, and again earned MVP honors in his second year.
Bonura played an array of positions including off-guard, point-guard, small-forward, and wing.
“I think both my playing experience and coaching experience will help me shape the basketball program at Live Oak,” he said. “Coaching under a lot of coaches has allowed me to see different styles of play and my biggest attribute is leadership.”
Bonura attributes his achievements to being a natural leader.
With plans on implementing a study session, Bonura wants his players to excel in the classroom as well as on the court.
“Joe will do a tremendous job with our student-athletes,” Live Oak Athletic Director Mark Cumins said. “He is a hard worker, has great knowledge of the game, is very organized and has a great demeanor working with players. He has a plan on continuing our basketball program in a positive direction. He has some big shoes to fill, Brett (former coach Brett Paolucci) did a great job but our program is in good hands with Joe.
“We had a very strong pool of candidates to choose from but we’re very confident Joe will do a great job,” Cummins said.
