COLLEGES:Thornton milestone deserved

Winning is not a topic of conversation for Orange Coast College women’s basketball coach Mike Thornton.

While most coaches quantify victories for the purpose of formulating preseason goals, or dangle the concept of victory before their players as a motivational tool, Thornton believes winning is merely a byproduct that will take care of itself.

It’s the ingredients of triumph that monopolize Thornton’s recipe for success. And the servings just keep on coming.

Thornton, in his 18th season at the Pirates’ helm, dished out win No. 400 Wednesday, a 70-60 victory over Orange Empire Conference visitor Santa Ana.

After Friday’s 73-66 conference win over visiting Saddleback, the Pirates improved to 20-3, 6-0 against Orange Empire foes. They are ranked No. 7 in the state, No. 4 in Southern California.

Thornton, who won 147 games in nine seasons as the girls’ basketball coach at Marina High before arriving at OCC for the 1989-90 season, takes a 401-181 record into Wednesday’s conference clash at Riverside. With eight more regular-season games remaining, plus the inevitable postseason, a second straight 30-win season is highly possible.

Thornton, 59, said he is committed to coaching at least three more years at OCC after this season. Since next year promises to be fruitful, with most of this year’s 10-player rotation returning, Thornton might not have to coach beyond 2010 to reach the 500 plateau.

But, not surprisingly, whether or not he reaches the 500-win mark won’t drive his decision, one way or the other.

“As long as I’m still having fun and my health holds up, it might be hard to quit,” Thornton said.

Though thoroughly competitive, Thornton has always operated with the perspective of a great educator. He taught special education for 21 years at Marina, before stepping down last year.

Now, the wisdom he imparts to OCC players on a daily basis is nothing short of special. And the results on the scoreboard are hardly the only imperical evidence.

Thornton said he recruits character kids, often instead of those with more athletic talent, and his mission has always been to compete with class and, on those rare occasions, lose with dignity.

A handful of his former players have worked for him as assistant coaches, including current staff members Leigh Marshall and Teeya Fernandez.

Among the first to shake his hand after win No. 400 was Santa Ana Coach Flo Lupanni, who as Thornton’s point guard in the mid-1990s, amassed 454 assists, still a school record.

Thornton said he has received congratulatory calls and e-mails from friends and colleagues after No. 400.

He also said it meant more to him because it was produced by players who are both fun to be around and a pleasure to coach.

He said about the only part of the job he no longer tolerates is driving the school van on road trips. And he still looks forward to practice.

But when he addresses his team, wins and losses are never discussed.

“It’s a corny cliché, but we just want to be the best team we can be at the end of the season,” Thornton said.

With that approach, Thornton’s OCC teams have, for nearly two decades, been consistently better than their opponent.

And that’s definitely something worth talking about.

Said Thornton: “[OCC men’s coach] Steve Spencer swears she could play for his team.”