The only head coach in the history of the men’s basketball
program at Goucher College, Leonard Trevino is nearing the end of
his second decade with the Gophers. Since starting the program from
scratch in 1990, Trevino has guided the Gophers to a 235-231
record, including a 130-60 mark (.684 winning percentage) during
one seven-season stretch.
The short amount of time it took the native of San Antonio, Texas,
to transform Goucher into one of the top Division III programs in
the nation is nothing short of remarkable. During the first three
seasons, the Gophers won only 20 games and dropped 52. But all of
Trevino’s dedication and determination began to pay off in
his fourth season when he led the Gophers to a 17-9 record and
their first Capital Athletic Conference title. The very next
season, Trevino’s squad finished with a 19-10 record,
repeated as CAC champions and was rewarded with its first
invitation to the NCAA Division III Championship.
In Goucher’s inaugural NCAA playoff game, the Gophers
ambushed Lebanon Valley, the defending Division III national
champions, 102-91, on the Flying Dutchmen’s home court.
Under Trevino, Goucher earned a bid to the NCAA Division III
national tournament two other times. In their three NCAA
appearances, the Gophers twice prevailed in the first-round games
and the other time earned a bye into the second round.
Goucher’s first 20-win season occurred in 1996-97 when the
Gophers went 23-6 and has been followed by two more: 20-7 in
1997-98 and 23-5 in 1998-99. Under Trevino, who is known for his
fiery and intense coaching style, Goucher won a total of four CAC
titles and appeared in the CAC championship game six of the 16
years it was associated with that conference.
On Dec. 5, 2008, Trevino directed the Gophers to a 62-57 victory
over Catholic in the first Landmark Conference game for both
schools.
The Gophers have enjoyed the success they have had under Trevino
while consistently playing one of the most difficult Division III
schedules in the nation. “My philosophy on scheduling has
always been that we will go after teams that are very good, and I
have to hope I have players who accept that challenge,” said
the two-time CAC Coach of the Year. “We want to schedule the
traditionally strong programs and tell them, ‘We know you are
pretty good and we think we are pretty good. Let’s go out and
find out who’s better.’”
Trevino came to Goucher from the University of South Dakota, where
he was an assistant men’s basketball coach for two years.
During that time, the Coyotes were 39-25 and appeared in the NCAA
Division II playoffs one time. Prior to that, Trevino served as a
graduate assistant at Texas A&M University.
Trevino attended Texas Tech University, graduating with a B.S. in
physical education in 1987. He went on to obtain his master’s
degree in physical education from South Dakota in 1990.
In addition to his duties as head men’s basketball coach at
Goucher, Trevino is also the institution’s Associate Athletic
Director.