New Mills coach not afraid of the past

But there is a huge void for the girls on the team who enter their first season without longtime coach Kelly Shea Gallo, who succumbed to breast cancer in May. Whoever took over the coaching reigns had a big hole to fill in the hearts of the Vikings.

"Kelly was more than a coach," said Lavinia Fanaika, a four-year varsity player and one of the team's co-captains. "I don't think anyone could fill Kelly's shoes."

That unenviable task has fallen to Dan Salvemini. He took over the Mills softball program last season and was given the basketball coaching reins this season. He's not trying to replace Shea Gallo. He's just trying to do what he does — which is coach.

"Students are students," Salvemini said. "If you're honest with them and the expectations are realistic (things will be fine)."

The team has been honest with their feelings. Before the school year started, current members, as well as players who had graduated, tried to convince the Mills administration that the best thing for the team would be to hire Shea Gallo's husband, Mark, to lead the Vikings through a transition period as they coped with the loss of their beloved coach.

The administration, however, needed to do what was best for the school and Salvemini was the choice.

Faniaka said the players were not against Salvemini's hiring, they just wanted what they thought was best for themselves.

"It was nothing against him," Fanaika said. "He's obviously experienced. Basically the administration's job was to find the best person for the job."

They definitely found him in Salvemini, who has brought his frenetic style from Burton in San Francisco to Mills. Salvemini has the Vikings running the break at every opportunity and instead of settling for a 3-pointer, as they have in the past, they are driving to the basket to either get a layup or draw the foul and go to the free throw line. Defensively, the Vikings are getting hands on passes and forcing turnovers — just as they did under Shea Gallo.

"I just like to push the ball and letting people have a chance to succeed," Salvemini said. "I think [the players] fit (my) style. The girls understand what they're roles are."

Salvemini has not forced the team to abandon their feelings for their former coach. He realizes that he is stepping in to an emotional situation.

"I'm excited to be here to continue building from the past and expanding the program," Salvemini said. "We certainly acknowledge Kelly's legacy and leadership."

Mills is already 4-0 on the young season and Fanaika said they team is moving forward but their former coach is at the forefront of their minds. After beating Palo Alto to win the championship of the first annual Kelly Shea Gallo Memorial Classic tournament, the Vikings broke their post-game huddle with a cheer of "Kelly."

"We've been doing it all year long before our games," Fanaika said. "We know she's watching over us."

***

Kelly Shea Gallo's legacy extends beyond the Mills basketball family.

How beloved was she?

The Peninsula Basketball Officials Association, which furnished officials for the Mills tournament for years, was back again this season reffing the Kelly Shea Gallo Memorial tournament.

But in a show of love and support for the Shea and Gallo families, the officials donated their pay to the scholarship fund set up for Kelly and Mark Gallo's two children — Mia and Chloe.

Mills athletic director Bob Thompson said that amounted to roughly $1,100 for the children. While Shea Gallo may have passed on, her legacy will remain for years.

Nathan Mollat can be reached at e-mail: nathan@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 x102. What do you think of this column? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.