MitchMash: John Raynor deserves key to any gym in the country

John Raynor, the definition of class and dignity, retired as a high school basketball coach today. At least from San Ramon Valley (Danville, Calif.). He'll remain as the school's athletic director.

The 59-year-old who coached the Wolves for 27 seasons, including back-to-back Northern California titles in 1991 and 1992, has been much more than a basketball coach at the school.

He's a man who seeps integrity, loyalty and strength. He's exactly the kind of person you want around teen-agers. Fair, thoughtful and convicted. And whip smart.

I watched him coach his last game at San Ramon Valley Saturday. It was an utter coincidence. I didn't know he was retiring. Just his inner circle probably did. At the last minute, I changed my assignment to attend the Wolves' Northern California Division I quarterfinal game with visiting McClymonds-Oakland. We had a quick exchange down memory lane before the game. It was so good to see him.

The Wolves (24-6), however, the solid favorite, lost 56-47. They didn't play well. Even though I hadn't seen them in person, that was obvious to see. They turned the ball over. The missed one chippie after another. They missed free throws.

On top of that, the referees blew their whistle often and randomly. On both sides. The result was no flow. It was simply a frustrating season-ending game, especially for the Wolves and Raynor.

Not the way he should go out.

What he deserved was a shoulder ride out of the gym and a state championship; A Gatorade bath and massage; A rain of confetti and key to the city — or any gym in America.

But Raynor, who barked a couple times at the referee, was his classy self afterward. As were the Wolves. They shook hands, turned to each other and walked off the court with dignity.

I had to laugh remembering one of my favorite Raynor moments. It was in the late 80s, in the Wolves' old gym and a kid named Taylor swished a three-quarters court shot to win a game at the buzzer.

While the fans stormed the court and the Wolves rejoiced, Raynor yelled "go shake their hands, go shake their hands."

But that's Raynor. He let the Wolves have their moment. But there was always a bigger picture to be painted, studied and learned. He had that bigger view before he got to Danville in Colorado, where he won multiple state titles, at Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) and Lick-Wilmerding (San Francisco) and even three seasons as a grad assistant at San Jose State.

When his e-mail appeared a few hours ago stating he had coached his last varsity basketball game at SRV, I was jolted. He started there in 1987, a couple years after I started in the business. I was sports editor of the San Ramon Valley Times and the Wolves were one of three prep teams I covered on a daily basis.

I remember the day he introduced me to a friendly sophomore kid named Mark Madsen, who called me "sir" then proceeded to drain blood from my right hand with his large, powerful death grip of a hand shake. Madsen, of course, went on to the State Player of the Year, an All-American at Stanford and NBA champion with the Lakers.

"He was a better person than an athlete," Raynor has said more than once, something I can attest.

Raynor coached, among other notable players, were Randy Winn (Santa Clara) and Kevin Dunne (Santa Clara) and Omar Samhan (St. Mary's), Brandon Adams (Hawaii) and Chris McNealy (Irvine). His latest lot of college players are Jordan Giusti, currently at St. Mary's College and Mark Tollefsen (USF).

On the current SRV roster, David Gunn, a 6-9 senior, and 5-11 guard Jerry Karczewski (Westmont) will no doubt play in college.

All of them were impeccably coached, with an emphasis on fundamentals, defensive prowess, shooting and toughness.

But Raynor wasn't overly enthralled with his most talented players. The last gents off his bench were just as important, if not more.

I recall when the Wolves had it really rolling in the early 90s, when they were constantly battling for NorCal titles, and Raynor once asked me why top chemistry students or musically-inclined kids didn't get headlines in the newspaper like jocks.

He wasn't demanding an answer, he was just speaking out loud.

And I had no answer for him. His point was clear, smart and spot on. Much like all the teams he coached. Even with Madsen, probably the most dominating big man I covered in 30 years, the Wolves were selfless, humble and hard working. Just like the man coaching them.

Raynor called coaching at SRV a "dream," and retirement from it "difficult."

"It is just time for me to leave the game I have loved so much," he wrote.

I'm sure that wasn't easy for him to write. It wasn't easy to read either. There's some people you want to coach forever.

In his e-mail, Raynor wrote of all the relationships he's made over three decades from his players to coaches to the student body's famed "sixth man," to officials to the community and even the media. He called those relationships something that he "will always cherish."

"Having the opportunity to work with San Ramon Valley's dedicated and talented student-athletes has been a true blessing," he wrote. "And I will always be proud of the work we have accomplished."

Finally, he said he looked forward to his concentrated role as an AD and thanked everyone for his or her assistance over the years.

"The experiences and memorials will never leave me," he said. "I have been so fortunate to have had the privilege to coach at San Ramon Valley High School."

The word privilege was underlined.

Once again, Raynor emphasized the key point, in this case the key word. He just has it transposed.

For it was all of us who have crossed his path who are the privileged ones. Ask Madsen. Ask Winn. Ask Samhan. Ask all the Wolves, starters, stars, reserves and team managers.

"Coach Raynor's the best," Madsen said at his induction to the Tri-Valley Hall of Fame. "He's not only a great coach — I truly believe Coach Raynor is one of the best coaches in the world — but he's also a truly world-class human being."