Santa Clara Coach Sets Victory Record

CARPINTERIA — About 500 fans stood and cheered as the public address announcer in the Carpinteria High gym intoned the making of history Tuesday night.

Lou Cvijanovich’s stone-faced expression did not change. In his 41st season as Santa Clara boys’ basketball coach, he became the state’s leader for victories in a career when his Saints routed Carpinteria, 79-47, in a nonleague game.

But to hear the 72-year-old tell it, the excitement over his record of 803 victories (against 259 losses) was too much about too little. .

“I’m very happy,” said Cvijanovich, surrounded by a crush of well-wishers. “It’s our fourth victory of the season.”

“Coach brought up the record before the game but [said] not to worry about it,” said Nick Jones, a senior guard for the Saints. “He had noticed in our play that we were anticipating [the 803rd victory] and he got mad at us.

“He said it wasn’t a big milestone for him and that there are bigger things down the road.”

Santa Clara has won 29 league titles, four California regional titles and two state championships under Cvijanovich.

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Victory Parade

The top five winningest boys’ basketball coaches in the state:

* 803--Lou Cvijanovich, Santa Clara, 1958-to date

* 802--Abe Abrami, Emeryville Emery HS, 1955-93

* 735--Frank LaPorte, Alameda St. Joseph, 1982-97; Oakland Bishop O’Dowd, 1960-70

* 715--Mike Phelps, Oakland Bishop O’Dowd, 1979-90 & 1992-to date, and at Alameda St. Joseph, 1971-87

* 650*--Bill Armstrong, six Southern Section schools, 1944-86

* estimated