After 13 years of coaching the Santa Fe College men’s basketball team, Chris Mowry knows what it takes to win games.
On Saturday, Jan. 9, the buzzer sounded in Jacksonville, as the Santa Fe Saints defeated Florida State College at Jacksonville 74-70.
The win meant a little more to Mowry than most because it was his 250th as the Saints' head coach.
“You’re only as good as your players,” he said. “To average almost 20 wins a season, we not only have to recruit the players, but we have to help them develop into better people to become successful.”
From asking how their math test went to bringing them meals after practice, Mowry said he makes sure that he is involved in his players’ lives.
His players are always bouncing in and out of his unlocked office, which contains a huge black leather couch. As a husband of 23 years and father of two, Mowry brings family-type support into the athletic department.
“He’s like my father away from home,” said Ty Birts, a sophomore guard.
Birts said Mowry has taught him the principles of discipline and instilled confidence in him as a player and as a person.
“Even the little things, like showing up to class early, are things I do because of him,” Birts said.
While Mowry teaches his players about half-court offense, he also instructs on how to stay out of trouble.
After news broke about Texas Christian University quarterback Trevone Boykin’s arrest on Dec. 31, 2015, for a bar fight and the alleged assault of an officer, Mowry turned that into a message for his players.
“When Friday nights comes, I tell them to make good decisions,” Mowry said. “They have more on the line than most of their friends at home do.”
Sam Guerrier, a freshman guard, worked his way from outside of the gymnasium to becoming a successful student and player. As a walk-on, Guerrier took advantage of the opportunity that Mowry gave him when he landed a spot on the team.
“Coach taught me a lot about persistence and hard work,” Guerrier said. “He was there when things got tough. Playing basketball, taking 18 credit hours and working wasn’t easy.”
Mowry’s connections with his players do not expire when seasons end.
Altavious Carter, 24, played under Mowry and left the team in March 2012 after suffering two torn ACLs. Carter now has his own desk inside Mowry’s office.
Since August 2015, Carter has been an assistant coach for the team, and he said the experiences as both a player and coach under Mowry have been an honor.
“I now know more about how to carry myself as a human, how to be a good father and an all-around good, stand-up guy,” he said.
While 250 is a big number, the impact that Mowry has had on his current and former players is even larger.
Competing at the junior-college level of athletics, most players on Mowry’s team are on scholarships and are working their way to attending a four-year university.
“Players are here to go somewhere else. We are just here to help them achieve their goals,” Mowry said. “If we can do that, the wins and losses don’t even matter.”