Grossmont College Coach Hawver collects 200th win

EL CAJON – Entering his 15th year at the helm of the Grossmont program, one of Coach Howard Hawver’s goals was to see the team reach 200 wins. This accomplishment came on Friday, September 25, 2009, as the lady Griffins defeated Palomar College by a score of 1-0. As fate would have it the deciding goal came from a 40 yard blast from Jenna Sanders, a player that Hawver coached when she was a youth.

For Hawver, the only coach Grossmont has known, win number 200 is part of an astounding overall record of 200-58-30. Under Hawver, Grossmont teams have won the PCC Championship five times and reached the Southern California playoffs 14 out of 20 years. When asked what this means to him, Hawver replied, “It’s a great honor if you’re looking back, but more important, it is this team’s third win of the year.”

Hawver is the longest tenured Community College Coach in San Diego County. When asked what keeps him going, Hawver said, “Number one, God, who gives me the strength to continue everyday. Two, my wife and family, who support me every step of the way, and three, the incredible staff at Grossmont who do everything to keep me on the field.”

Hawver also added, “I have had the pleasure of working for three incredible athletic directors; Felix Rogers, who hired me, Bobby Thompson, who helped re-motivate me, and James Spillers, who doesn’t know the word “no”, with him it was always “yes”. Spillers is very positive.”
When asked what is next, Hawver replied in typical fashion, “We have another game Wednesday and we hope to compete for the conference (championship) and reach the playoffs once again.” In other words, the focus is on the team now.

Reprinted from Grossmont College website.

The Grossmont team currently stands at 4-1 near the top of the PCC Standings.

Howie Named 2008-09 CIF Coach of the Year

On Tuesday, October 27, 2009, the San Diego CIF Board of Managers will honor our very own Howie Hawver as the 2008-2009 CIFSD Girls' Soccer Coach of the Year for his work with the Patrick Henry High School soccer teams. The presentation will be at the San Diego County Office of Education, 6401 Linda Vista Road, Room 401, San Diego 92111. This is an honor long overdue. In the 11 years that Howie has coached the Lady Patriots, he has amassed some pretty amazing accomplishments:

CIF playoffs in all 11 years of coaching
Eastern League Champions 8 years in a row (still continuing)
Eastern League Champion in 9 of 11 years (in other two years, second place)
Produced 9 Eastern League Players of the Year
PHHS Record of 176-34-32 (Most wins in PHHS History)
PHHS winning percentage of 79% (Highest in PHHS history)
Eastern League Record of 111-6-11 (89% winning percentage)
Produced over 25 players that went on to play Collegiate Soccer

Congratulations Howie!!!