A new challenge for Low

Low replaces James Jewett, who coached the Scots the past three seasons. Girls' frosh-soph and varsity assistant coach Irene Oliveira takes over the girls' varsity team.

Actually, this was the intention all along when Low came to Carlmont from Lowell High School in San Francisco. Carlmont Athletic Director Terry Stogner said his plan was to have Low coach the girls while Stogner coached the boys for one last year. That year turned into three as Low wanted to first turn the girls' program around.

"He had his first losing year - ever (his first year at Carlmont)," Stogner said. "He said he needed to stick around and fix it."

Low said he is always up for a challenge and when he won only four games his first year with the Lady Scots, he knew what he wanted to do.

"I'm glad I stayed (with the girls)," Low said. "Look where it got us."

Low takes over a boys' program that went 2-12 in Peninsula Athletic League South Division play and 5-17 overall last season.

"It was a tough decision," Low said. "I had a great relationship with the girls. But there's always this challenge factor for me. I think there are a lot of [good] basketball players at [Carlmont]."

Low has spent 23 years coaching basketball - 20 at the high school level. But Carlmont was the first time he coached girls.

"The first thing I told my wife after the first practice was, 'What did I get myself into?'" Low said. "But whether you coach girls or boys, you have your expectations and you're going to drill it into them until they get it right."