Athletics
Bill Bayno Charts New Course as Men’s Basketball Coach
When Bill Bayno was introduced on April 9 to the LMU community as the
new head coach of the men’s basketball team, he described clearly what
his program will be known for: recruiting, hard work, unselfishness and
respect.
Bayno, who left his position as assistant coach
with the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers, warned Lions fans against
expecting an immediate turnaround from this past season and its 5-26
record. For next season, he promised an attacking, aggressive style of
basketball rooted in thorough preparation, excellent conditioning and
tough defense. “We’re going to be the hardest-working, most unselfish
team in the league,” Bayno said. But his ultimate goal is clear. “I’m
here to win a WCC championship,” he said.
The new coach
called recruiting the “lifeblood of any program.” With extensive
professional, collegiate and summer camp experience, he plans to make
recruiting a priority.
“I’m going to recruit locally, I’m
going to recruit internationally, and I’m going to recruit on the East
Coast, wherever we can find kids who fit the mission — good kids who
can really play and who are committed to graduating.”
Prior
to his four years with Portland, Bayno was head coach of the University
of Nevada, Las Vegas men’s team from 1995–2000. UNLV compiled a 94-64
record, including two trips to the NCAA tournament. Before his stint in
Las Vegas, Bayno was an assistant at the University of Massachusetts
under Coach John Calipari, who guided the University of Memphis to the
NCAA Tournament Championship game in April. Bayno also coached under
P.J. Carlesimo, at Seton Hall University, and Larry Brown at the
University of Kansas. As a college athlete, Bayno played at the
University of Massachusetts and Sacred Heart University in Fairfield,
Conn., where he was a Division II All-American.
When William
S. Husak, director of intercollegiate athletics, described the hiring
process that brought Bayno to campus, he said: “We were looking for a
candidate with successful head coaching experience, someone with a
reputation for recruiting and developing players, a coach who would
generate excitement and visibility for our program, and someone who
would understand our university’s mission and contribute to the LMU
tapestry and culture. … For LMU, Bill Bayno is the right leader for our
program. For Bill Bayno, LMU is the right place, and this is the right
time.”
Showing Our Pride
Senior rower Jill Austin was one of only 13 female athletes nationwide
to receive the NCAA Women’s Enhancement Postgraduate Scholarship in
March. She is the third Lion in six years to be honored. She won a
bronze medal at the 2008 World Indoor Rowing Championships in Boston in
February.
Senior Heather Hughes was named to the U.S.
Women’s National Training Volleyball Team travel squad that took a
three-week training tour of China in March and April.
The
baseball team crushed Oregon State, the two-time defending national
champion, in March by a score of 12-3. The team also swept the two-game
season series against USC and defeated perennial power Cal State Long
Beach, 7-3, at Page Stadium.
Swimming Team Has Banner Year
The LMU swimming team won its first title in the Pacific Coast Swim
Conference in February with a performance that placed 11 team members
on the All-Conference team, more than doubling last year’s best-ever
showing of five. Head Coach Bonnie Adair also was named PCSC Women’s
Coach of the Year.
Junior Rebecca Plume took the individual title
in the 500 freestyle, while senior Alex Wike won the 50 freestyle.
Sophomore Alicia Witter took the 100 freestyle. The Lions racked up
1,212 points, 46 more than the second-place finisher, Pepperdine.