They’re a Band of ‘Virtual Nobodies’ : But Chapman Women Know How to Win With Berger’s No-Nonsense System

For a coach who claims his women’s basketball team is comprised of “virtual nobodies,” it may seem surprising to Chapman College’s Brian Berger that so many rivals are watching his every move.

But people are watching, and here’s why:

--Before losing to the University of Portland, 59-58, Monday in the Hutton Sports Center, the Panthers had the longest Division 2 home winning streak in the nation (24 games) over two seasons.

--For the past three seasons, or ever since Berger arrived on the campus of the small, private college in Orange, the Panthers have been nationally ranked. They were rated fifth in the country among Division 2 teams in 1982 and 1983 and captured the NCAA West Regional championships both years. Last year, the team advanced to the national quarterfinals before losing to Central Missouri State, which eventually won the NCAA Division 2 title.

--Since Berger’s arrival in 1981, the Panthers have an 81-20 record overall. This season--going into tonight’s game in the Hutton Sports Center against Montreal’s McGill University--they are 10-2.

Anyway you look at it, Chapman is one of the country’s most successful Division 2 women’s teams.

And the reason, most observers agree, is Berger and his no-nonsense method of coaching.

His practices are intense. He’s demanding and, at 6-7, imposing. He almost never smiles or laughs. His players don’t play . . . they work. No jokes. No unnecessary talking. No fun.

“Some people say this is only a game, but you can reduce everything in life to just a game,” the 36-year-old Berger said before a recent practice. “This is a business and I’ve got business to do.”

But what about fun?

“Winning is fun . . . and we’ve no business losing because losing is nooo fun.

“My job is to see that these girls get an education and that we win some basketball games.”

He places his priorities exactly in that order, with classes and grades being the most important to Berger, who earned a master’s degree in education after playing basketball for two years at Pepperdine University.

The only excuses Berger accepts for missed practices are class attendance or work.

And he constantly preaches tough defense.

This year, even Division 1 coaches are taking a look at Chapman’s tough defensive style. After all, the Panther “nobodies” have beaten six of the seven Division 1 opponents they’ve faced in nonconference play.

Still, the Panthers’ primary focus is on beating Division 2 teams and winning their second straight California Collegiate Athletic Assn. title.

“We have a stronger, more experienced team this season with a goal to make it to ‘The Final Four,’ ” Berger said. “Just because we’re beating tough teams now, doesn’t mean it’s time to relax.

“In our conference, Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State Dominquez Hills are going to be tough, but we’re definitely the team to beat.”

Delisa Carter, Leone Patterson, Melissa Firpo and Liz Mitchell are the heart of the team. Carter, the team’s 6-4 senior center, is a mother who had never played basketball until her senior year at Santa Monica High School. After a few games, however, Carter decided she really liked the sport. So much so, in fact, she once failed to tell then-Coach Dick Bede (now coaching at Loyola Marymount University) that she was nine months pregnant so she could play in a tournament. She gave birth to Diondre Carter two days later.

“I thought the game was boring until my cousin talked me into playing,” said Carter, the Panthers’ leading rebounder with an 8.1 per game average.

Carter was recruited by several universities after playing basketball for two years at Santa Monica Junior College, but she chose Chapman because it was close to home.

Last year, Carter earned second-team All-CCAA honors and third-team All-America honors--which isn’t bad for a player who five years ago didn’t even know how to shoot a free throw. Last season, she led the team in scoring and rebounds.

Patterson is a 6-0 senior forward who was recruited by Berger sight unseen from her native New Zealand.

“Berger’s offer was my only chance to study in the United States, so I came,” said Patterson, who last year was voted the most valuable player in the NCAA Division 2 West Regionals. She earned first-team All-CCAA honors in 1982-83.

Firpo is an aggressive, 6-0 junior forward, who leads the team in scoring, averaging 14.3 points per game.

“If you want to learn how to play basketball, watch Firpo,” Berger tells the other players.

Says Firpo: “Sometimes it’s really hard playing for him (Berger), but it’s worth it in the end when we win . . . we hate losing.”

Mitchell is a 5-7 senior guard, who redshirted last year.

Five players--Kelly Harrison, Susan Bergendahl, Jo Ann Ready, Darcy Caulkins and Shanna George--take turns at the fifth starting spot, a guard position. And Tami Brewster sees a lot of playing time as a substitute at forward.

So, there they are, the band of “virtual nobodies.”

“They didn’t look like much,” Berger said, “but when these girls decided to get it together, they proved one thing: They sure can play basketball.”

Chapman College women’s basketball Coach Brian Berger (above) preaches tough defense and he expects a no-nonsense approach to the game from his players. At left, Panther center Delisa Carter (middle, in white uniform) exemplifies Berger’s style as she’s dives for a loose ball in a recent game.