VCHS Athletic Director Talks Awards, Academics and Sportsmanship

When current Athletic Director Zac Chan took over in 2009 for the retiring Eleanor Dykstra, who was involved with the school‘s athletic programs for 36 years, the proverbial torch was passed.

Since then, the transition has led to positive results. Chan not only took that torch and ran with it, but he played a role in bringing a “Torch” to campus, which is prominently displayed in his office.

After a good showing by several VCHS teams during the spring, which included boy’s volleyball capturing the 2011 Division III CIF Championship in May, the school won the inaugural Torch Award -- recognition given to the Olympic League’s best athletic program.

“Since this was the first year, we didn’t promote it that much among players,” Chan said as he glanced at the trophy in his office. “We didn’t want to put anymore undue pressure on our young athletes, but we did play it up with our coaching staffs.”

In fact, Chan said many of the school’s student-athletes didn’t celebrate the award until he talked about its significance at a general student assembly where he added, “Everyone was excited.”

Chan said the award was the brainchild of the league’s five athletic directors. Initially, the award was to be given to the school with the best showing in varsity sports; however, Chan suggested adding junior varsity and freshman/sophomore sports to the mix.

“I wanted to include all levels of student-athletes, so that everyone would have a hand in saying their school was No. 1,” he said.

The Torch Award is based upon a point scale in which teams are rewarded points for finishing higher in the Olympic League standings for fall, winter and spring.

Varsity sports are worth more points followed by junior varsity and freshman/sophomore sports.

Of the Crusaders' 31 teams, nine finished in first-place; six tied for first and 11 either tied for or finished second.

VCHS won the Torch Award by finishing with 290 points, ahead of Maranatha High School’s 262.25 and Whittier Christian High School’s 250.25.

Established in 1935, VCHS athletics are accustomed to winning. The school has produced 30 CIF Championships, 191 league champions, including 20 individual championship titles and has had 375 ALL CIF athletes.

Prior to arriving at VCHS, Chan coached at Mayfair High Schoolserved as the school’s AD for six years.

He said that becoming part of the VCHS family wasn’t a “rebuilding project.”

“Everything was already in place due to the foundation Eleanor Dykstra laid,” he said. “I inherited a good coaching staff and infrastructure. I have only changed three coaches in two years.”

Chan said the school warmly welcomed him and he immediately embraced the school’s “community feel.”

“It was a pretty easy transition,” he said. “My wife went here (VCHS), I lived one-and-a-half miles away while I was at Mayfair, and my kids attended elementary school in the system.”

Valley Christian Schools are comprised of VCHS; Valley Christian Middle School; Valley Christian Elementary School and Valley Christian Preschool.

“Humility” is a word Chan said he uses often and it is an attribute he stresses when interacting with student-athletes.

In fact, Chan was just as enthused talking about the school’s miniscule academic ineligibility rate that he said “could be counted on one-hand.”

“Two thirds of our coaches are teachers as well, so they understand what VCHS is trying to do when it comes to helping develop well-rounded individuals who excel both in athletics and in the classroom,” he said.

“We also have a partnership with our parents which is a recipe for success,” he continued.

Athletic prowess and academic excellence aren’t the only two virtues Chan wishes to see the school strive for.

He said winning the Torch Award was “nice,” but that he really wants VCHS to capture the league’s Sportsmanship Award.

The Sportsmanship Award is voted on by the league’s coaches. Its criteria aren’t measured by stat sheets and wins and losses. Instead, fan behavior and opposing player conduct during competition helps determine the winner.

“When I first got here, I looked at all of those championships and said, ‘I want to continue that,’” said Chan. “However, we want to do it the right way. With character.”