Becoming the 2009 NCAA Champions started with right attitude as most all things do in life. We had the attitude that we could do it and the deeper into the tournament we went, the more the team was not going to be denied. They were not afraid of the moment. Every player on our team had won a national championship in the juniors so although this was big for them, it was not something new to them. Another important factor was that we had played the majority of the season without a full team. We had at least one player hurt in 80% of our matches. We had had some good wins without a complete team and now with everyone healthy it gave us a lot of confidence. The injuries enabled our younger players to get the match experience to be ready for the NCAA tournament. In the final match we started three freshman and they were going to need all the experience they had to finish their matches. I used the train analogy the whole week and it just seemed so appropriate. The further we went in every match and in the tournament-the more steam we had behind us. Momentum is huge in sports and we could feel it like a train going down the tracks. One of the mistakes that young or inexperienced coaches can make is trying to do too much; really sometimes you simply just need to get out of the way.   I have always said the coaching that is done in September thru April wins in May-all the work had been put in and now we just needed to let them shine.

As coaches we thought the most important thing was to keep all of our routines similar to what they had been the whole year. We did little things to keep everyone laughing. We had two team Suburban’s that we were riding in and each night members from each other’s car would go to the grocery store and vandalize the other car. Peanut butter on the door handles-messages on the windows-stuff that would make each other laugh. Right before the quarter finals I called the team together as we were warming up for the match, (without consulting my two other coaches) told the team that we had 3 matches left before a team title and with each victory a coach would get their head shaved. If we won today I would go start it off. I felt like the team needed to laugh and I wanted them to focus on something besides just winning. In the semis we beat Texas so it was Coach Brett Masi’s turn. He shaved his head but he saved the clippings and when we woke up to play the finals they had pasted his hair all over my car mixed in with Peanut Butter. Totally disgusting but also very funny-we started the morning with a laugh, just the way every morning should start. 

Everything about the final was totally different. The team was interviewed by ESPN right after the semifinal. I had my two captains read the singles and doubles line-ups and I told them to have a blast with it. The announced all the different nick names – I could see how much fun they were having. It was great to see my personality coming out in the team at this very important time. When I walked in to talk to the team before the final-I knew that I certainly could not win the match with how I talked to them but I could certainly lose it. Just needed to be how I was the rest of the season. For us it was very different to have a camera crew with a boom mike in our locker room-certainly not something we see very day. After we won the doubles point I knew we were in good shape because in the locker room the team was telling me we were going to win. You could feel the momentum pulling us to the finish line. Mag was first winning in straight sets followed by the shock of the day at # 6, Daniel Nguyen beating Chase Buchanan in straight sets. On court #1, my captain Robert Farah could see what was going on; he simply said “if I win, we win.” After losing the first set he won the next two sets, 6-1, 6-4 to secure the championship for us. 

To be a part of a team winning a championship is a very rare and special occurrence.   I would encourage everyone if they have a chance to be a part of a championship that they absolutely go for it. There are plenty of championship programs in the US, conference champions, national champions. Not just at Division 1 but all the Division’s and I know they all feel just like we did. Winning the championship was so special. To see the smiles on all my team member’s and coaches faces, to end the season without losing. The joy and happiness in the guys was great to see. I have talked to the team members about this and we all agree- now when we are watching the Lakers or the Yankees win their championships you see their smiles and know exactly how they feel. Coming home to USC with the Trophy made you feel like you belonged. The expectations at SC are such that everyone thinks you can win the championship every year and that pressure, those expectations made the excitement that much more thrilling.