Steve Picchi, the former girls' head coach at Burlingame (a state title in 1988), Newark Memorial and Sequoia, not to mention the former College of Notre Dame, is the new head coach at Ohlone Community College in Fremont. He was hired in late July.
Steve Picchi at Ohlone
- Thread starter colhenrylives
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It was her first job as a head coach. Her departure was abrupt. The reason, or reasons, have not been made public.
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Not exactly the most informative story. What was Ohlone's record last year? Who are the returning players? Who are the incoming freshman? What kind of system will Picchi run?
And of course, why was the other coach fired, and why so late?
Instead, there's just pablum from the AD.
This kind of problem is endemic to sites/magazines covering lower-level sports. Though emphasizing the positive clearly should be a priority, if you want readers, you need to do more when the situation calls for it.
And of course, why was the other coach fired, and why so late?
Instead, there's just pablum from the AD.
This kind of problem is endemic to sites/magazines covering lower-level sports. Though emphasizing the positive clearly should be a priority, if you want readers, you need to do more when the situation calls for it.
In the past, Picchi has counted on a halfcourt 2-1-2 matchup zone (rebounding with all five) and an emphasis on good shot selection, limiting turnovers, very specific offensive sets and careful use of the shot clock. He has not been a devotee of the buffet approach, doing a bit of everything while winding up being good at very little.
Coach Picchi is the master of the 2-1-2 zone. He also had asst coach stints at Santa Clara Univ and Chabot College. Like the Colonel says he likes to milk the clock on offense and play solid defense. If he has any kind of talent, they will tough team to play because that particular zone is very hard to attack.
And, to buttress the point, there are few kids who want to play a team using that style. In many ways, it's a form of hoops waterboarding. But it definitely gets results, no matter the talent level.
Picchi's 2-1-2 matchup zone showcases players who thrive defensively, rebound, hustle, dive for loose balls and stay focused throughout the 30-second clock. If a player has outstanding offensive skills, she becomes obvious in the system very quickly. So any four-year coach worth her stipend should have no problem spotting prospects at Ohlone, assuming there are any. And that, of course, remains an open question.
While his 2-1-2 match up is probably the best that has ever been played, I think that clay is saying is that not every college coach runs a match up zone and it's hard to tell if kid can play man to man defense when a coach plays zone.
They say that the best way to teach a zone is to teach good man to man principles but not sure it fits the other way around.
They say that the best way to teach a zone is to teach good man to man principles but not sure it fits the other way around.
There may be some truth in that. However, too many coaches treat a zone as a form of safety valve in case of foul trouble or protection for a big, slow kid who can't function at all one-on-one. Picchi sees the matchup zone as being akin to man-to-man in many ways. Sound man-to-man principles are a key to a solid matchup zone. And vice versa. All of this is predicated on cutting the floor not just in half but in quarters so that much of the game is played within a 20-foot box, enabling his defensive philosophy (and gang rebounding by all five kids) to function well. The team's talent level dictates adjustments within that mindset. So does the scouting report and, of course, the opposition. In the end, Picchi's total commitment to his zone and overall style of play (originally taught by the late Tom Martinez at the College of San Mateo a generation ago) rubs off on his players who, in most cases, wind up believing in it and playing hard for him. His zone is not a fallback or optional tactic; it's the key to what makes his teams tick. His philosophy may fly in the face of many of the current fads and fancies, but it works. Give him even a modest supply of decent players and he will win ballgames at Ohlone. Give him outstanding talent and look out.
A well-run matchup zone is a great defense, and much different than a traditional 2-3. To make it work, though, the coach has to know it inside and out, and you have to practice it a lot. Some of the rotations (regardless of the precise system) are unusual, and you have to spend time smoothing out the details. But once the players get it, a matchup zone is very tough to attack.
All good points. Picchi has been using the Tom Martinez matchup zone for 30 years. He has been tweaking it for just about that long as well. Some of his teams run it better than others (good athletes can make this defense hell on wheels for foes). But where this style of play really pays dividends is when the talent level is mediocre or worse. It allows those teams to be competitive (at least for awhile) so they don't get blown out early by superior talent.
Picchi's a great coach that gets the most out of his talent. I have no doubt he will do the same at Ohlone
He needs players. Numbers are not satisfactory right not. This project will take two or three years to turn around.
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