New Mexico State Athletic Director Dr. McKinley Boston heralded the enlistment of Trakh's nearly 30 years of expertise during a press conference back on April 8, 2011, and it was on this day that Trakh was introduced to his new team of Aggie women. And the ball began to roll.
If first impressions carry profound weight, then the Lady Aggies have made a deep imprint on Coach Trakh thus far.
"This is more than just coach speak – sincerely, they've been great! They've worked really hard; they've practiced with a lot of enthusiasm and passion. It's one of the best groups of kids I've ever coached," Trakh says.
As Coach Trakh is getting to know his new team, following them with a keen eye, he's conscious to the inheritance of his predecessor relaying, "They take care of business on and off the court. They're really good kids, and I think that's a credit to the old staff. Darin Spence brought in some really solid citizens."
As a first-year NM State head coach, bringing with him 16 years of NCAA Division 1 level experience and three first-season assistant coaches to coalesce with a team of energized women that includes 10 returning players and seven newcomers, Trakh isn't concerning himself with the jumbled numbers – rather, he's intent on enhancing the team's skill level on the floor with every game.
"I think that's the goal, just to maximize our ability and play as hard as we can every, single night and initially, not worry so much about what the scoreboard is saying, and just worry about how hard, and what kind of effort we're putting out every night," he says, "We just take the next minute of practice that's ahead of us."
With 476 games under his belt, time and experience has given his coaching philosophy a revision. His principles have evolved to being an enabler for his athletes to reach their potential. Coach explained that empowerment is the crux of his credo - coaching them up; lifting them as high as they will themselves to go.
"You've got to make them feel. You've got to get them to overachieve and make them believe they're better than they are. You can get a lot more out of them if they feel good about themselves. You've got to know when to push them and when to hug them," he says.
And Trakh has assembled a trinity of women to ensure that his vision permeates throughout the team. Jamie Shadian, Tamara Inoue and Aarika Hughes were appointed as first-year assistant coaches for the Aggie Women's Basketball team, forging a synergy founded upon Trakh's individual connection to each. He glossed on having known each of his assistant coaches since high school, and coaching Aarika during his tenure at the University of Southern California from 2004-09. He went on to describe that each woman brought her unique talents to the court, making his coaching staff as a whole greater than the sum of its parts.
"You're only as good as your assistants, and they teach – the kids hear them a lot. My goal is to keep them here together as long as we can. I just think we need continuity in staff, especially those three. And the girls really, really respect them, so I can't say enough about those three young women."
Now transplanted in the college town of Las Cruces from the busy streets of Los Angeles, Trakh realizes the opportunities he has coaching in a smaller community. He recognizes the community's enthusiasm to get involved.
"There's advantages to a small community, and I think there's a big advantage if you win – you can draw support; you can create an atmosphere. I think this place, where if you win, you can create an atmosphere, which will help you recruit. And I think that's really big, but you've got to win," he says.
And coach is hoping to create a spirited atmosphere inside the Pan Am when the Aggie Women take on Arizona (a Pac-12 team) on November 21, 2011, which will be broadcast on Fox Sports Arizona. "It'd be great if we could pack this place. That's the goal there," he says.
As he continues to acclimate and project himself as a proactive member of the community, Trakh is reflective about what he hopes to contribute to the NMSU community.
"It's more me learning from the community. I owe the community a lot. I think what I want to do is just put a competitive product on the floor, get kids to enjoy their experience and their college experience. I think one of the statistics I'm most proud of, is that we've graduated 100 percent of our athletes in 16 years," he says.
He explained that only four players had left programs during his tenure – three in his 11 years at Pepperdine, and one in five years while at USC. "That retention rate is pretty good and that indicates to me that the athletes are having a good college experience, and that's really important to us. And that's what we want to do – both on and off the court. We want to provide a good experience for them," he says.
And with his first season with the Aggies commencing, he's going into it slow and steady, meticulously building the relationship with his team.
"I'm enjoying it. I genuinely like going into practice everyday and seeing them. It feels good. It's when you lose your first game together and you go through adversity, and how you get through that adversity – and that hasn't happened yet, and that's when you really start bonding with your team…" |
