San Joaquin Memorial of Fresno head coach Brad Roznovsky shows intensity during second CIF state championship season in four years. Photo: Sal Velazquez.
For leading his program to its second CIF state championship in four years and for successfully mentoring countless players at his alma mater, Brad Roznovsky of Fresno San Joaquin Memorial has been named the 2026 State Coach of the Year in boys basketball. This season featured a satisfying ending after losing in the section quarterfinals to the team it beat in a dramatic D2 state final.
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When Bakersfield Christian met San Joaquin Memorial of Fresno in the CIF Central Section D1 quarterfinals, we knew it was a matchup of two of the three best teams in The Valley and that it was more of a semifinal matchup. The Eagles had already defeated San Joaquin Memorial during The Classic at Damien, 67-52, and our state rankings held up, as Bakersfield Christian won, 61-59. BCHS then lost to section kingpin Santa Maria St. Joseph in the semifinals by 10 points and it came as no surprise D1 section championship game was a blowout.
For San Joaquin Memorial coach Brad Roznovsky, he felt that was a playoff game his team gave away and it did something to his state-ranked unit. The Panthers still qualified for the regional tournament, but with the early playoff exit and frankly poor seeding, San Joaquin Memorial didn’t know exactly where it was going to be placed in terms of geographical region and CIF Division, but the loss re-focused and sparked something in the senior-laden group. The team also had to wait exactly two weeks to begin play in the regional playoffs after the quarterfinal exit.
Ironically, San Joaquin Memorial was placed in the D2 North playoffs and Bakersfield Christian in D2 South. When the regional pairings were announced, it wasn’t hard to envision a rubber match between the two Valley teams in the CIF D2 final. After all, both were not only good enough to be in the D1 North regional, they were clearly better than a vast majority of those teams. After two weeks to re-group, the Panthers won four games and indeed did get another shot at BCHS. After easily downing Oakland Tech in the NorCal D2 final, San Joaquin Memorial put it all together and came up with a gut-check 46-45 win over then state No. 22 Bakersfield Christian to capture the program’s second CIF title in four seasons.
SJM head coach Brad Roznovsky introduces NBA star Jalen Green when Green’s jersey number was retired. Photo: Paul Meadors.
The game wasn’t decided until leading player Parker Spees caught the ball near mid-court after the Panthers inbounded the ball under their own basket with 4.2 seconds to go and leading by a point. Spees came up with the ball and simply threw it high in the air, avoiding the NBA scoreboard at the Golden 1 Center, as the Panthers celebrated and Roznovsky let out a big smile. It was evident the coach was elated for his players to get a chance to experience the joy of finally beating a familiar foe and winning a state title in the process.
For leading his program to a CIF state title with a rubber match win, consistently winning games while leading a program that excels on the court and in the classroom, San Joaquin Memorial’s Roznovsky has today been named 2025-26 State Coach of the Year by Cal-Hi Sports.
“To be named Coach Of The Year in the state is a huge honor…there are so many great high school coaches in California and to be chosen is incredible,” Roznovsky said. “I am humbled and honored…I always say that the success of this program over the years is because we have had great players.”
With his selection, “Coach Roz” is the first coach of the year selection from the CIF Central Section since 2001, when current Fresno State coach Vance Walberg was the choice after leading Fresno Clovis West to a 31-3 mark and a No. 12 FAB 50 ranking.
In his 14 seasons at the helm of his alma mater, Roznovsky has amassed a 297-130 mark while his program has captured three section titles. Those numbers, however, don’t come close to explaining the impact he’s had on the young men that have played for him. Roznovsky stresses fundamentals, preaches academics and loyalty, and goes to bat for his players. He’s always trying to put his team in front of college coaches during the holiday tournaments and June scholastic live period, while playing a tough schedule to test his team for the post-season.
It has paid off, both on and off the court.
This year’s team, led by Spees and Sajjin Sidhu, finished ranked No. 17 in the state with a 28-7 mark. The 2023 team, in which Speed and Sidhu were freshmen, also won the CIF D2 state crown and finished No. 28 in the state with a 26-9 mark. In 2019, the program won the section D2 crown led by junior Jalen Green, the most talented player Roznovsky has coached and a future NBA starter. Green transferred out after that season to Prolific Prep when it was still in Napa, but Green actually graduated from the school and Roz went to the 2021 NBA Draft to support his former player even though he played somewhere else as a senior. Green even comes back to the school to conduct camps and help Fresno youth. That’s the type of loyalty Roznovsky had built with nearly all of his ex-players.
Roznovsky also knows the tradition of the SJM program, which dates back many years before he stepped foot on the campus as a freshman in the fall of 1983. The list includes still current NBA center Brook Lopez, Brook’s twin brother, Robin (former NBA player) along with Quentin Pondexter (former NBA player who was on the same team as the Lopez twins). There’s also Quentin’s father, Roscoe, a former Mr. Basketball State Player of the Year, and Quentin’s uncle, Clifton, a former NBA first-round draft pick.
Roznovsky, a 1987 graduate of San Joaquin Memorial whose three kids graduated from the school, stated that the school hasn’t changed much since then. It’s a close knit community that has endured nearly 40 years of change and growth in Fresno. Roznovsky, who played both hoops and baseball for the Panthers before going on play baseball at Cal-State Stanislaus, not only has loyal players who check in with him regularly, he stresses to them to get it done in the classroom. Not only was this team focused to avenge those losses to BCHS, they were focused in the classroom, too. This year’s team maintained a terrific cumulative GPA. It’s a stat Roznovsky is as proud of as any on the court.
“Our team GPA this year was 3.6 and I am so proud of this,” Roznivsky said. “With the help of our administration, counselors, teachers and coaching staff, we have all assisted in keeping these young men focused on their academics making sure they know the importance of maintaining good grades.”
Winning just makes the classroom accomplishments a bit sweeter and today’s honor is a reflection of Roz’s guidance in building a well-rounded program.
“The best thing about this job is the relationships I have formed after these young men graduated,” Roznivsky. “We have coached so many boys that have gone on to play in college and even a couple of NBA guys. Getting calls/texts from these boys stating they graduated from college, or they will contact me for my address because they are getting married, those are the real victories there.”
The one against Bakersfield Christian wasn’t too far behind, either.
BOYS BB STATE COACHES
OF THE YEAR ALL-TIME LIST
(Selected by Cal-Hi Sports)
Last year’s honoree, Andre Chevalier from Sierra Canyon of Chatsworth, poses with 2025 CIF Open Division state title trophy. Photo: Ronnie Flores.
2026 – Brad Roznovsky,
Fresno San Joaquin Memorial (28-7)
2025 – Andre Chevalier,
Chatsworth Sierra Canyon (27-7)
2024 – Matt Dunn,
Bellflower St. John Bosco (28-7)
2023 – Mike Hansen,
San Ramon Dougherty Valley (27-4)
2022 – Mike LeDuc, Damien La Verne (31-4)
2021 – Josh Giles, Corona Centennial (21-2)
2020 – Dave Rebibo,
Studio City Harvard-Westlake (25-7)
2019 – Jonas Honick, Ross Branson (31-3)
2018 – Dave Kleckner, Etiwanda (30-4)
2017 – Arnold Zelaya,
San Francisco Mission (35-1)
2016 – Russell White, Encino Crespi (33-4)
2015 – Chuck Rapp, San Mateo Serra (23-6)
2014 – Doug Mitchell,
Torrance Bishop Montgomery (28-6)
2013 – Mike Haupt,
San Diego St. Augustine (29-4)
2012 – Bill Mellis, Richmond Salesian (33-2)
2011 – Eric Cooper, La Verne Lutheran (27-5)
2010 – Dwan Hurt, Gardena Serra (34-2)
2009 – Steve Johnson, Rialto Eisenhower (31-4)
2008 – Dwight Nathaniel, Oakland McClymonds (32-0)
2007 – Harvey Kitani, Los Angeles Fairfax (28-5)
2006 – Peter Diepenbrock, Palo Alto (32-1)
2005 – Pete Newell, Santa Cruz (36-1)
2004 – Don Lippi, Alameda St. Joseph (28-6)
2003 – Zack Jones, San Diego Horizon (32-1)
2002 – Ed Azzam, Los Angeles Westchester (32-2)
2001 – Vance Walberg, Fresno Clovis West (31-3)
2000 – Frank Allocco, Concord De La Salle (31-1)
1999 – Clinton Williams, Oakland Fremont (28-4)
1998 – Jerry DeBusk, Rancho S.M. Santa Margarita (32-2)
1997 – Frank LaPorte, Alameda St. Joseph (31-4)
1996 – Russell Otis, Compton Dominguez (34-2)
1995 – Steve Filios, Mountain View St. Francis (27-8)
1994 – Hank Meyer, Carmichael Jesuit (31-7)
1993 – John Barrette, Palo Alto (31-0)
1992 – Tom Orlich, South Tahoe (30-1)
1991 – Tom McCluskey, Tustin (30-4)
1990 – Lou Cvijanovich, Oxnard Santa Clara (28-0)
1989 – Willie West, L.A. Crenshaw (25-2)
1988 – Reggie Morris, L.A. Manual Arts (27-3)
1987 – Gary McKnight, Santa Ana Mater Dei (31-1)
1986 – Mike Phelps, Oakland Bishop O’Dowd (31-5)
1985 – Stephen Keith, Glendale (28-0)
1984 – Ron Palmer, Long Beach Poly (31-2)
1983 – Jorge Calienes, Rosemead Bosco Tech (25-5)
1982 – Dick Acres, Carson (26-2)
1981 – Maury Halleck, Santa Barbara San Marcos (25-1)
1980 – Leo Allamanno, Oakland Fremont (24-2)
1979 – Dave Shigematsu, Oakland Castlemont (23-3)
1978 – Ben Tapscott, Oakland McClymonds (22-3)
1977 – George Terzian, Pasadena (29-3)
1976 – Bill Armstrong, Palm Springs (22-4)
1975 – John Mihaljevich, Palos Verdes (24-6)
1974 – Dan Risley, Elk Grove (30-0)
1973 – Tom Conway, Stockton Stagg (28-0)
1972 – Tom Cleary, Fresno San Joaquin Memorial (27-2)
1971 – George McQuarn, L.A. Verbum Dei (29-2)
1970 – Spike Hensley, Berkeley (32-0)
1969 – Gordon Nash, La Mesa Helix (29-2)
1968 – Ralph Krafve, East Bakersfield (29-0)
1967 – Frank LaPorte, Oakland Bishop O’Dowd (37-2)
1966 – Len Craven, Whittier Sierra (28-1)
1965 – Leo Allamanno, Oakland Fremont (21-2)
1964 – Bill Mulligan, Long Beach Poly (32-1)
1963 – Bill Armstrong, Compton (27-4)
1962 – Dick Edwards, Sacramento El Camino (23-1)
1961 – Paul Harless, Oakland McClymonds (19-1)
1960 – Bill Thayer, L.A. Fremont (17-1)
List continues back to 1920 in the Cal-Hi Sports State Record Book & Almanac.
Ronnie Flores is the managing editor of CalHiSports.com. He can be reached at ronlocc1977@gmail.com. Don’t forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonMFlores
