Lavdiotis hired as PHS head basketball coach

Phillips released after one year at varsity level

By: Gray Cathrall

What a difference a year makes.

In March 2000, Chris Lavdiotis was one of a small number of candidates hoping to become Piedmont High School's next head boys basketball coach. He certainly had put in his time ­ six years as the JV coach ­ and the time for coaching at the next level seemed imminent.

Freshman basketball coach Greg Phillips, a middle school P.E. teacher, was picked, At age 47, Lavdiotis was left to consider several options, his formal proposal for integrating high school, middle school and grade school basketball left unused. Due to the close allegiance he felt for his JV players, he stayed on, coaching through this season.

One week ago, April 16, Lavdiotis was rewarded for his strong belief in the virtue of patience. He received a call from PHS principal Pam Bradford asking him to come in to discuss basketball ­ what else.

"I had heard lots of rumors in the community," Lavdiotis said, "but I didn't know anything about the job being open until she called on Monday. She advised me that coach Phillips would not be coming back and asked if I would meet with her."

With the strong support of his family (wife Kim, daughters Tessa and Sofia), and his law partners at Lombardi, Loper & Conant in downtown Oakland, Lavdiotis was back on campus Friday in the same office he had been in almost exactly one year earlier.

"Basically, we discussed the fact that it was time for me to get to work," he said, grinning.

Those who have observed Lavdiotis as coach, mentor, member of a basketball-crazy neighborhood, active member of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral and family man know of his maturity, his passion for the game of basketball and his belief in the value of working with young people.

A product of and basketball player for Lincoln High in San Francisco, he graduated from UC Berkeley in 1975, earned a law degree from Hastings College of Law and went to work with the law firm of Hardin, Cook. He was married in 1979, moved to Piedmont in 1982, and settled into his home on Palm Drive two years later ­ before there were free-standing hoops at strategic locations for kids.

He cut his teeth coaching CYO ball at St. Leo's at the urging of Piedmont resident Ann Tramutola, staying with the same group of kids from fourth grade until they graduated in eighth grade.

"That was fun," he recalled. "If you had two practices a week, you were lucky," he said, laughing at the dichotomy with the demands of high school ball. "When Rich Kitchens retired (1991), Ann Tramutola told me the varsity position was open and encouraged me to apply."

Former head coach Mike Herrerias and Lavdiotis were the only two candidates, and Herrerias, who had assisted Kitchens for a number of years, was picked.

"Mike encouraged me to stay involved. I scouted for him one year, then coached the freshman boys in 1993-94," he explained. He has coached the JV team since then.

But Lavdiotis would be the first to question what it takes to be a successful varsity coach, as opposed to the JV or freshman level.

"What I have found is that each year you learn a little more about yourself and the kids; you find what it takes to mold them into a team. I'm comfortable believing that hard work can overcome a lack of magnificent athletic ability," he stated. "The group I've been coaching is willing to work hard and play together as good as any group I've ever seen. When you have a bunch of guys who are statistically even, that to me is the best example of sharing the ball."

"It shows a great regard of teamwork, and I think it'll keep happening," Lavdiotis said.

To make sure it keeps happening, he plans to have assistant coaches at all levels ­ freshman, JV and varsity. He also wants to begin having high school players become mentors to kids in middle school and below.

Currently coaching a varsity-level team in a spring league, Lavdiotis intends to have Piedmont players in varsity and JV summer leagues. It may not be for everyone, but it's definitely the model of successful prep programs in California.

And what about having the time to be a successful coach? "It's a six minute drive to my office," he responded. "If you want something badly enough, you make it work."

"I truly feel that I have great balance in my life. I have the good fortune to have a wife who has sacrificed a lot to allow me to do this. This is my burning passion. And I have business partners who encourage and support it," he said.

Looking ahead to next November when the basketball season begins, Lavdiotis, a man of considerable passion, said, "The community is going to be proud of this, I can guarantee that. And one of our goals is to get the community interested in basketball again."