Purugganan to coach women's basketball
Coach replaces Ann Bowen as leader of the women's basketball team for 2009
Marcus Schmidli
Issue date: 6/4/09 Section: Sports
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Brian Purugganan will replace Ann Bowen for the 2009-10 season after Bowen finished with a 14-117 record during her five seasons with Pierce.
Purugganan comes to Pierce College after nine years as the head coach of the women's basketball program at Foss High School where he went 121-91.
He led the Foss Falcons to the state tournament twice and to the West Central District Tournament six times.
During his time at Foss, the team was the Narrows Bridge Division Champions in 2007-08 and Purugganan was named the division Coach of the Year in 2004.
In looking for a replacement for Bowen, athletic director Duncan Stevenson says Purugganan was an excellent choice.
"The search committee felt that Coach Purugganan had the best overall experience to bring to the program," Stevenson said. "19 years as a high school head coach in the Tacoma area, credentials for building and maintaining competitive excellence in his programs, and working with young women to build success for their futures."
Purugganan is a Tacoma-area resident for 27 years and prior to coaching at Foss High School, Purugganan was head coach at Clover Park High School (1995-2000) and at Christian Faith High School (1990-1995).
"Foss basketball has always had a winning program, for both men and women. I have always been confident in my ability to coach at the next level, it is just not that easy to get the opportunity," Purugganan said.
"Coaching for the past 19 years at the high school level has prepared me with many life situations, that I wouldn't have experienced, unless I have had been a coach. I believe that many principles of basketball, can be learned about life. Basketball has provided so many opportunities to learn and teach," he added.
It just so happens that next years squad will be returning 10 players including former Bethel High graduate and leading scorer Alychia Colon. Colon lead the team last year with 12.5 points per game.
Stevenson hopes that with a brand new coach and the framework for success in place, wins will follow.
"Our hope, and goal, is that Coach Purugganan will build a solid competitive foundation for the women's basketball program," Stevenson noted. "There is no reason why the Raiders can't be a consistent playoff team, and compete for the Western Division title each year."
To his credit, Purugganan has very early expectations as well: "I expect to win. 'The will to win, is not as important, as the will to prepare to win'. I believe we will be prepared."
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