Community Corner
Rolling Hills Prep School's Tale of Two Coaches
Meet Coach Wilkens and Coach Fancher.
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San Pedro, California------June 29, 2013------ Rolling Hills Prep School (RHP) has two amazing coaches in Matt Wilkens and Mark Fancher. Both coaches earned CIF Coach of the Year honors. Both coached their respective teams (Girl’s Volleyball and Men’s Basketball) to 2012-2013 CIF Championships. The Varsity Boy’s Basketball Team and Girls’ Volleyball Team were Coastal League Champions with multiple players earning Coastal League Players of the Year. Both Wilkens and Fancher believe in the advantages of coaching a small roster because it gives them the chance to help each player improve their strengths and correct their weaknesses over the course of a season.
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The similarities might end there.
Coach Wilkens likens his style to former Lakers coach Phil Jackson. He describes his manner as calm, relaxed, yet hyper- focused on the details so that he can make adjustments. The team looks to Wilkens as the head coach, their anchor. He doesn’t get too excited and he doesn’t get down. He remains composed and steady. He lets the bench players and assistant coaches make all of the noise. He demands a lot from his players but in an encouraging way. Coach Wilkens advice for his athletes is: “Work hard at your craft, always look for ways to improve your game, and learn from your errors.”
Coach Fancher describes his style as passionate. He puts everything he has into helping his kids become winners and does whatever he has to do to get the best out of each individual athlete because he finds no two kids respond to the same type of coaching. Coach Fancher states: “If I have to yell, I'll yell, if I have to put my arm around a kid, I'll put my arm around him and console him. No matter what I do, I care a great deal about all of my kids and I show them that in many ways.”
Another commonality between the two coaches is that they both always want to have fun. They feel you can have a serious goal and work hard but still have a good time. If you were to watch the coaches in action, their distinctive styles are apparent, but so is their desire to win. It’s hard to argue with the results.
About Rolling Hills Preparatory School:
One of the most highly respected schools in the Los Angeles area, Rolling Hills Preparatory School works in partnership with parents to develop in their college-bound students disciplined minds, sound character, healthy bodies, and creative spirits through proven teaching techniques within a stimulating and supportive academic environment. For more information about Rolling Hills Prep, see www.rollinghillsprep.org.
