John Bonner celebrates after winning the NCAA West Regional on his home floor for the first time in program history. Photo by Jena Rouser, Chris Perry Courtesy of CSUDH Athletics.
By Raymond Castillo, Sports Editor
It is one thing to say that you care about your players, but it is a completely different ball game to actually do it. Head coach of the California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) Women’s Basketball team, John Bonner gets it.
“Every player deserved to be coached the same way…. It wouldn’t be right if our top six players got a really intense coach and the others get ehh whatever,” said Bonner.
On the court, Bonner is intense and fiery, but this drive is not by accident.
“It’s up to them, I ask them if they want me to let them figure it out and just sit back but they don’t want it,” Bonner said. “They want to be coached hard, they want to be great, so they allow me to do that.”
Off the court, Bonner is known for his frequent check-ins with players. They all have a weekly meeting called “Tens,” where the players come in individually and talk about everything but basketball for as little as 10 minutes or as long as they want the conversation to go. Topics such as social justice, new tv show recommendations, social identities and how to navigate life are just a few of the topics discussed in these sessions. This allows Bonner to tap into his masters degree in marriage and family therapy from Fresno Pacific University.
“If you can find a way to create memories, you’re going to make their experience better,” Bonner said.
Those memories are why Bonner originally fell in love with basketball growing up in Bakersfield, Calif. Being raised by his grandparents and mother with his three siblings, the constant theme of hard work was always present. After his grandmother passed away, Bonner found an escape at the local hoop that allowed him to experience solace and joy amongst the struggles of the reality he was currently facing.
“I did not grow up in an environment that saw a lot of people make it out. You sold drugs, hope to not get shot, hope to not go to jail,” Bonner said.
Those stark realities shaped Bonner into who he is today. He was forced to work hard for everything he had. His mother worked multiple jobs to try to provide for him and his three siblings. Even while attempting to latch on as a full time coach, Bonner worked at Target and as a therapist to pay the bills and fund his dream.
Bonner Started with his first coaching job at Hamilton Middle School in Fresno, Calif., then moved on to be a basketball manager and graduate assistant at Fresno State. From there, he volunteered at Fresno Pacific University for four years. He then received his first assistant job there and became the interim head coach, and finally the full-time head coach at CSUDH.
“It’s kind of crazy… I worked multiple jobs. It was great for me to just grind. I didn’t sleep much, but I needed it,” Bonner explained.
The life that Bonner has lived, one of sacrifice, dedication and hard work, exemplify the very school he works at. That is why Bonner and CSUDH are a perfect fit for each other.
“We want tough, gritty but also respectful people that care about others and want to put in the time to be great on and off the court,” said Bonner.
Bonner is not interested in the glitz and glamor that can come with winning. He is much more comfortable hanging out in the background and allowing the attention to be on everyone else. He is much more concerned with the people he meets, the lives he changes, and the smiles he produces rather than what his win-loss record is or what the score is.
Being a good human being will always mean more to him than a championship, and that is exemplified in Bonner’s coaching.
