Santa Clara High School (Oxnard)
Encyclopedia
Santa Clara High School, or SCHS as it is commonly referred to, is a private, Catholic
four-year high school
serving grades 9-12 in Oxnard, California
. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles
. Opening in September 1901. The school is the oldest high school in Ventura County.
In 1967 the school became an Archdiocesan high school and operational responsibility of the school shifted to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. In 1981, The Sisters of St. Joseph, who kept residences at the school, moved to St. Anthony's Convent and their space was renovated into additional classrooms and office space. In 1986 a new gymnasium, Friedrich Pavilion, was constructed.
took the helm in 1958, the boy's basketball program has won 30 league titles (most league titles of any high school program in the country), 15 CIF titles (second most in California high school history), as well as 3 California State Championships (1989, 1990 & 1999). The program appeared in 3 straight state championship games (1989,1990 & 1991), winning in 1989 and 1990 and losing in 1991.
In 1999, Lou Cvijanovich announced that after 41 years of coaching the basketball program, he would be retiring at the end of the season. The 1999 team went on to win the state title, winning 30 games and Coach Cvijanovich's record 829th victory in the process.
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
four-year high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
serving grades 9-12 in Oxnard, California
Oxnard, California
Oxnard is the 113th largest city in the United States, 19th largest city in California and largest city in Ventura County, California, by way of population. It is located at the western edge of the fertile Oxnard Plain, and is an important agricultural center, with its distinction as the...
. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is an archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the U.S. state of California. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the archdiocese comprises the California counties of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura. The diocesan cathedral is the Cathedral of Our Lady of the...
. Opening in September 1901. The school is the oldest high school in Ventura County.
History
The school, originally named St. Joseph's Institute, was founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet on September 2, 1901. The school moved to the top floor of the Santa Clara Elementary School building on South "E" Street, and in April 1930 the name was changed to Santa Clara High School. Over the next two decades, increasing enrollment necessitated a new facility, and under the leadership of Monsignor Anthony Jacobs, and a generous land grant from Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Friedrich, the new Santa Clara High School opened on South Saviers Road in the Spring of 1952. In 1964 the high school annexed the adjacent empty junior high school facility, acquiring sixteen new classrooms, office space and a new auditorium, doubling the capacity of the high school.In 1967 the school became an Archdiocesan high school and operational responsibility of the school shifted to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. In 1981, The Sisters of St. Joseph, who kept residences at the school, moved to St. Anthony's Convent and their space was renovated into additional classrooms and office space. In 1986 a new gymnasium, Friedrich Pavilion, was constructed.
Athletic Tradition
Santa Clara High School has a long history of success in its sports programs, most notably its basketball program. In its storied history since Coach Lou CvijanovichLou Cvijanovich
Lou Cvijanovich was the boys basketball coach for Santa Clara High School in Oxnard, California from 1958-1999. He is the winningest high school basketball coach in California history, with 829 wins....
took the helm in 1958, the boy's basketball program has won 30 league titles (most league titles of any high school program in the country), 15 CIF titles (second most in California high school history), as well as 3 California State Championships (1989, 1990 & 1999). The program appeared in 3 straight state championship games (1989,1990 & 1991), winning in 1989 and 1990 and losing in 1991.
In 1999, Lou Cvijanovich announced that after 41 years of coaching the basketball program, he would be retiring at the end of the season. The 1999 team went on to win the state title, winning 30 games and Coach Cvijanovich's record 829th victory in the process.
Notable Staff & Alumni
- Lou CvijanovichLou CvijanovichLou Cvijanovich was the boys basketball coach for Santa Clara High School in Oxnard, California from 1958-1999. He is the winningest high school basketball coach in California history, with 829 wins....
: Legendary basketball coach from 1958-1999. Winningest coach in California high school history.
- Dave LautDave LautDavid Lester Laut was an American shot putter. He was born in Findlay, Ohio.He won the bronze medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles...
: This SC graduate won Olympic Bronze at the 1984 Summer Games for shot put. He was inducted into the Ventura County Sports Hall of Fame in 1997.
- Isaiah MustafaIsaiah MustafaIsaiah Mustafa is an American actor and former NFL practice squad wide receiver. Mustafa is widely known as the main character for a series of Old Spice TV commercials, The Man Your Man Could Smell Like.-Early life:...
: Actor and professional football player.