Shawna Nunes graduated from Ceres High in 1981. She earned nine varsity letters, including four in track and field, two in basketball and volleyball, and one in cross country. Nunes was named the school's top female athlete her senior year.
Shawna completed her 18th and final season of coaching with the Bulldogs' varsity girls basketball team this past winter. Ceres High amassed a 365-142 record, captured one section championship, claimed six league titles, secured 15 playoff berths and collected 20 wins 10 times during Nunes' tenure.
Shawna will fill the position of athletic director at her alma mater, beginning this school year.
"I'm getting myself acclimated with the responsibilities," Nunes said. "It's exciting. It's going to be a challenge. The learning curve is steep. A lot of things were already in process. The biggest thing is making sure the coaches get what they need."
Nunes' predecessor, Glenn Driskell, will continue to teach and coach at Ceres High School.
Driskell succeeded Phil de la Porte, who filled the A.D. position for 25 years.
Shawna and Phil coached basketball together for a number of years.
"Glenn's still on campus," Nunes said. "Phil's still in town. They've always been good mentors for me."
Nunes started her new job on Monday, July 25.
All coaching positions have been filled for the fall sports season.
When asked what kind of qualities an effective athletic director should possess, Nunes said: "A good sense of humor and tactful honesty are extremely important."
Shawna also talked about the importance of giving back.
Nunes' teams helped out different clubs and organizations throughout the years.
"Ceres High is not just a place to go to school," she said. "We want our students to be a part of the community."
Just 32 of the Sac-Joaquin Section's 191 schools, or less than 17 percent, had female athletic directors in 2010-11.
Nunes and Central Valley's Michelle Parrish find themselves among the minority.
Parrish was rewarded this past school year. She won the section's Athletic Director of the Year award.
"I'm used to being one of the few females," Nunes said. "There aren't many in coaching."
Shawna received numerous awards throughout her coaching career. Her crowning achievement was being named Sac-Joaquin Section Model Coach of the Year in 2004-05.
A lifelong Ceres resident, Nunes was voted 2010 Ceres Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the Year.
Athlete. Coach. Mother. Athletic director. Upstanding community member.
Shawna also takes a great deal of pride in being a lifelong resident of Ceres.
"It's an opportunity most people don't have," said Nunes, while talking about her rise through the ranks in her hometown. "I still have some things I'd like to get accomplished."
Shawna completed her 18th and final season of coaching with the Bulldogs' varsity girls basketball team this past winter. Ceres High amassed a 365-142 record, captured one section championship, claimed six league titles, secured 15 playoff berths and collected 20 wins 10 times during Nunes' tenure.
Shawna will fill the position of athletic director at her alma mater, beginning this school year.
"I'm getting myself acclimated with the responsibilities," Nunes said. "It's exciting. It's going to be a challenge. The learning curve is steep. A lot of things were already in process. The biggest thing is making sure the coaches get what they need."
Nunes' predecessor, Glenn Driskell, will continue to teach and coach at Ceres High School.
Driskell succeeded Phil de la Porte, who filled the A.D. position for 25 years.
Shawna and Phil coached basketball together for a number of years.
"Glenn's still on campus," Nunes said. "Phil's still in town. They've always been good mentors for me."
Nunes started her new job on Monday, July 25.
All coaching positions have been filled for the fall sports season.
When asked what kind of qualities an effective athletic director should possess, Nunes said: "A good sense of humor and tactful honesty are extremely important."
Shawna also talked about the importance of giving back.
Nunes' teams helped out different clubs and organizations throughout the years.
"Ceres High is not just a place to go to school," she said. "We want our students to be a part of the community."
Just 32 of the Sac-Joaquin Section's 191 schools, or less than 17 percent, had female athletic directors in 2010-11.
Nunes and Central Valley's Michelle Parrish find themselves among the minority.
Parrish was rewarded this past school year. She won the section's Athletic Director of the Year award.
"I'm used to being one of the few females," Nunes said. "There aren't many in coaching."
Shawna received numerous awards throughout her coaching career. Her crowning achievement was being named Sac-Joaquin Section Model Coach of the Year in 2004-05.
A lifelong Ceres resident, Nunes was voted 2010 Ceres Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the Year.
Athlete. Coach. Mother. Athletic director. Upstanding community member.
Shawna also takes a great deal of pride in being a lifelong resident of Ceres.
"It's an opportunity most people don't have," said Nunes, while talking about her rise through the ranks in her hometown. "I still have some things I'd like to get accomplished."
