lokar hired at amat

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SoCalHoops Coaching News

Ray Lokar Hired As New Boys'
Coach At Bishop Amat--(June 13, 2001)

We received a press release from one of our friends in the news business, letting us know about a recent hire which was only announced today, specifically, that Ray Lokar, formerly the head coach at Western Christian, St. Anthony's and a college coach at Pomona-Pitzer, has been named as the new head coach of Bishop Amat. We've known Ray for about four or five years now, and he's a great guy, and this is a really excellent hire.

The press release that we received was saved in some kind of format that was next to impossible to read, which truncated the text when we attempted to open the file, so what we had to do was attempt some minor surgery (of the wordsmithing variety) in order to figure out exactly what it said. What we managed to piece together below is probably a bit different than what some of the newspapers will receive today, but at least our version is readable. . . .Here's the edited press release:

For Immediate Release
June 13, 2001

SCIBCA President, Ray Lokar Named
Head Basketball Coach At Bishop Amat

Ray Lokar returns to his alma mater as the new head varsity basketball coach at Bishop Amat Memorial High School. This will be Lokar's second stint as a basketball coach at Amat, the first time around as an assistant and culminating in the school's only appearance in the CIF-SS finals in 1988. Lokar was also a college assistant at Pomona-Pitzer, an assistant at perennial CIF powerhouse Glendora HS, the head coach at St. Anthony in Long Beach, coaching the Saints to the CIf semifinals, and most recently head coach at Western Christian HS. Of his appointment to the head job at Amat, Ray said, "I am very happy to be back home at Bishop Amat. It is probably the premier athletic program in the San Gabriel Valley. Working with an administration that understands the benefits of quality co-curricular programs like athletics, and is willing to do what it takes to offer them, is something that I am looking forward to. Everything Amat does is synonymous with quality and I expect the basketball program to meet that standard. We're rebuilding an amazing new gym called the Alumni Pavilion. As an alumnus, I am proud to have a chance to be the first boys coach to lead a team into that new era. We will strive to be one of the most respected teams around, the kind that any parent would want their son to be a part of."

Lokar is a physical education specialist entering his sixth year at South Hills Academy in West Covina and will remain there as a full time instructor, while teaching one class at Amat. It is an important year for the Academy as they undergo an accreditation process that will entrench it as one of the outstanding private schools in the area; Lokar is rewriting their PE curriculum, assisting in the accreditation process. South Hills Academy is located a few miles from Bishop Amat, is also considered one of its major feeder schools.

As a member of the Executive Board of the Southern California Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association since 1990, he recently began his term as President of the organization. The purpose of SCIBCA is to promote and uphold the integrity of high school basketball while informing, educating and servingt its member coaches. During Lokar's time on the Executive Board, the Association has spearheaded several reforms in CIF rule and policy changes that have benefitted high schools throughout the Southern Section. They have also offered several clinics and events to serve their members. Lokars says, "Working side by side with a group of quality coaches to give something back to the game is tremendous. The Association directly benefits players and coaches alike and we are always looking to improve our services. Look for hughe changes in the upcoming year."

Coach Lokar has coached in the San Gabriel Valley for 25 years at the youth, high school and college levels. He has worked countless camps and cliknics during that time for ages 8-18 and is one of the most sought after and respected clinicians in Southern California. Ray resides in West Covina with his wife Shannon, who teaches first grade and is the cheerleading advisor at South Hills Academy.

Coach "Lok" as he is affectionately known, most recently led Western Christian High School boys' varsity to one of their best seasons in school history and a "Sweet 16" berth in the CIF playoffs. Lokar's son, Shawn started as a junior on that team and was 1st Team All-League and named honoreable mention to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune's All-Valley team. Shawn.returned for his senior year to Western Christian where he was on of the more highly recruited guards in the San Gabriel Valley, named one of the top 50 shooting guards in SoCal by SoCalHoops, a "Player of the Week" for the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, was selected 1st Team All-CIF. He also started for the Western Christian baseball team, and as a third baseman-shortstop with a 4.1 GPA and 1300 SAT, is being sought after by several academically strong colleges.   Ray's daughter Heather started for the the Lady Lancers varsity basketball and softball teams as a freshman this past year. His youngest daughter, Brittany attends 7th grade at Las Palmas, plays NJB and softball for Covina Hills Girls' team.

"Being a parent gives a teach-coach a unique perspective and an opportunity to try to teach as they would want their own children to be taught. As a head coach, I think that it gives you a great chance to parent a program," Lokar said. In addition to coaching his own children at Western Christian HS, Ray has also been active as a coach and board member of the Covina American Little League, Covina Hills Girls' Softball and NJB.

Ray has coached his teams to three CIF semifinals, one section finals and state playoffs twice, as well as having coached in the NCAA tournament four times. Not one to pass up the internet, Ray Lokar also has his own coaching website, located at www.basketball4all.homestead.com. Lokar says to coaches about the site, "It is really a collection of information, some my own, but mostly a compilaation of knowlege from dozens of other coaches. There are several great links to coaching sites throughout the world that offer tremendous information. The constant quest for a 'better way' is what makes our profession, and this game, an ever-changing adventure. As long as we continue to grow and learn, the future of our sport is in good hands. Spread the word about this site and fellow coaches can voice our concerns, solve our problems, and share ideas in a place where we strive to be the best 'teachers of the game' that we can be. Hope you visit often."