Mater Dei's Kiernan is girls basketball coach of the year

When Kevin Kiernan took over as head coach at Mater Dei in 2007, the Monarch faithful had high expectations.

Kiernan had won 11 Freeway League titles, five CIF-SS titles and three state championships in 11 seasons at Troy, so there was a lot of pressure on Kiernan to turn around Mater Dei's girls basketball program.

Kiernan has produced big-time, turning Mater Dei into one of the top programs in the nation.

Mater Dei went 34-1, won its fourth consecutive Trinity League title, third consecutive CIF-SS title and second consecutive state championship. The Monarchs were crowned national champions by ESPN last season. They went into the CIF Division 1 state championship game against Berkeley ranked No. 1 in the nation, so they should win their second consecutive national championship after beating Berkeley, 59-47.

That's some season, and it's the reason Kiernan is The Register's girls basketball coach of the year for the 2010-11 season.

The 2010-11 All-County girls basketball team

Orange County girls basketball player of the year: Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis

"We don't worry about the expectations," Kiernan said. "We just try to develop the kids we have – whether it was at Troy or at Mater Dei – to the best of their abilities. We try to help them develop as players and as people to get them to their potential whatever that may be. With this group the bar is set very high because of their talent level."

The group Kiernan is referring to includes Connecticut-bound Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, USC-bound Alexyz Vaioletama and junior Jordan Adams, who will be one of the top recruits in the nation next season. All three played on Team USA's junior national team.

"We just don't want them to go out there and play on talent," Kiernan said. "We're trying to develop them as players. That's what these guys have done. They've taken their abilities and made themselves better and that's why we're in the position we're in.

"Sometimes when you have a lot of talent it's difficult off the court. This group of kids, I think, has seen both sides of that. Last year, sometimes we had some difficulties. This year, these guys have really pulled together. They matured. We had some really good seniors this year. Jordan Adams has really come into her own as a team leader. They changed. To their credit, they made things so much better this year."

Kiernan credits his assistant coaches Pete Bonny and Alicia Komaki, who played for Kiernan at Troy, for much of Mater Dei's success.

"I have such great assistant coaches, and they work with the kids, too," said Kiernan, who is 123-7 in four seasons at Mater Dei. "They are such a big part of the culture here. It's not just my voice all the time.

"I have Pete Bonny and he's coached forever. We've been together since Troy. Pete's a technical guy. He has great game plans, great practice plans. He's a very bright man."

Komaki replaced Kiernan's wife on the staff after Christine Kiernan left to be an assistant at Cal State Northridge.

"She's really, really sharp and really, really bright," Kevin Kiernan said. "She's brought a lot of stuff to the table. I'm just blessed to have those guys."

Mater Dei was ranked No. 1 in the nation until losing to Long Beach Poly, 61-56, in the semifinals of the Nike Tournament of Champions on Dec. 21. That would be the Monarchs' only loss of the season. Mater Dei reclaimed the top spot after defeating Brea Olinda, 63-54, in the CIF-SS Division 1AA finals.

After the Long Beach Poly game, Kiernan promised his coaching staff he wasn't going to cut his hair again until his team lost a game. Kiernan's hair is getting pretty ragged, but Mater Dei doesn't figure to lose another game for a long time.

"The people here at Mater Dei are kind of looking at me sideways," Kiernan said. "You're supposed to keep your hair short, not that I have a whole lot. But it's been a crazy run."