Del Oro names graduate, ex-athlete girls basketball coach

For Greg Hoffman, the decision to return to the sideline started with something far more personal than basketball. In February, Hoffman was at Newcastle Cemetery visiting the grave of his daughter, Siena, on the anniversary of her passing. Siena, a 2023 Del Oro graduate who played basketball and volleyball, died in February 2025 after suffering an epileptic seizure while attending the University of Alabama. "That first year, I honestly couldn't fathom doing anything related to coaching," Hoffman said. "I'd walk into a gym and just feel uncomfortable. It was a very strange feeling." But that day at the cemetery shifted something in Hoffman. "I felt kind of an overwhelming push from her to get involved," he said. "She had the kind of personality that would want me to get back to the kids and the program." That moment ultimately led Hoffman, a 1990 Del Oro graduate, to apply for the head coaching job. The decision to return to the sideline was anything but quick and something he said he would not have done without the support of his family. "I spent a lot of time thinking about it and praying about it," Hoffman said. "It's not an easy commitment. Coaching is more than just showing up on game nights. But Del Oro is the type of community that rallies around its kids, and I want to make sure they feel supported and have a great experience." Hoffman's ties to Del Oro run deep. After graduating, he went on to play collegiately before going overseas to play professionally in Australia. He knows of the culture established under longtime coach Mike Takayama, who passed away in 2016 at 56. "I was really close to Mike," Hoffman said. "He treated his players with respect, and they respected him. He made sure the girls knew he cared, and in turn they worked extremely hard but he also made it fun." Reestablishing that balance, Hoffman said, will be central to his approach. "There's no silver bullet when it comes to culture," Hoffman said. "It's about building something where the kids are competing and doing their best but also enjoying the ride. It's a long season, and you want them to have fun along the way." Hoffman's prior coaching experience includes time as a varsity assistant at Oakmont and as a JV head coach at Del Oro, but this will be his first stint as a varsity head coach. Despite stepping into a competitive Sierra Foothill League and inheriting a talented roster, Hoffman isn't focused on external pressure. "If you build the right culture and program, the wins will come," Hoffman said. "There are a lot of great teams and coaches in this league, but I'm just going to do my best every day and try to build something lasting." As for what success looks like in season one, Hoffman points beyond the scoreboard. "If we're playing our last game and the girls, from freshman to varsity, are disappointed when the season is over, that's success," he said. "If they can say they had a great experience and gave their best, then the wins and losses will take care of themselves." Hoffman said he is still in the process of finalizing his coaching staff and hopes to have those decisions made in the coming weeks. While the hire brings expectations, Hoffman made it clear where he wants the focus to remain. "I'm not the type of person that wants a lot of attention," he said. "I'd rather it be about the kids and the program."