Driving home from work Tuesday night, Will Cowan convinced himself to turn his life upside down and join the maelstrom that is the Ventura College men's basketball program.

"It might be a chaotic in the beginning," said Cowan. "But it's going to be worth it in the long run."

The Pacifica High athletic director and girls' basketball coach jumped at the chance to join first-year head coach Ned Mircetic and assistant coach Jon Wyers on staff as the Pirates transition away from the Greg Winslow era.

"I grew up in Ventura, born and raised," said Cowan. "I understand Ventura College basketball. I understand (the) We Play Hard' (motto) and how important it is to the community.

"I feel like it's an honor to help guide the program through a rough time in its history. Coupled with the opportunity of coaching with a Hall of Famer like (Mircetic) it struck me as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Cowan's hire completes a steadying of the coaching staff that spanned five months.

After eight years as head coach, Winslow resigned Feb. 15, during a season marred by the second investigation of the program in 11 years. The school advertised for a part-time head coach in March and interviewed applicants, including Cowan, in April, before deciding to ask Mircetic, the long-time women's basketball coach, in May to head both programs during the investigation.

The school soon advertised for an assistant coach. One of three finalists, Cowan interviewed in June with a three-person search committee that included Mircetic, department chair Terry Morris and Executive Vice President of Student Learning Ramiro Sanchez.

"We thought he was the best candidate for the job," said Mircetic. "He's highly intelligent. His knowledge of the game of the basketball is excellent. His teaching skills are excellent. His experience as an athletic director has given him an organizational background.

"He's way ahead of the curve, for being as young as he is."

Cowan, 31, began coaching before graduating from Ventura High in 1995. The president of the Ventura County Basketball Coaches Association, Cowan has 14 years of local basketball coaching experience and 11 years of local football coaching experience, including two years as a VC assistant.

In three years at Pacifica, he coached the school's first Division I scholarship athlete (Suzie Davis) and, in 2007, he coached the first team in the history of the Oxnard Union School District to participate in the state basketball tournament.

Cowan will continue as the Pacifica AD.

"Our administration is working on a plan for the future of girls basketball," said Cowan.

Although the two programs play doubleheaders during conference play, conflicts during the non-conference schedule will force Mircetic to miss some of the men's games. He has yet to decide whether Cowan or Wyers would be the acting head coach in his absence.

"That will be for a later date," said Mircetic. "It's been discussed... but there isn't anything that's written in stone.

"We have four coaches between the two sports, which is what we had last year. We'll be able to work closely as a staff, integrated for next year."

It looks like Cowan is one of the final pieces of the puzzle for next year's team.

Although it is not confirmed until the first day of the fall semester, the current makeup of next year's roster is outlined on a white board in the men's basketball office. Mircetic expects to have seven returning players — guards Prince Abidoye, Pepe Araujo, Danny Benson, Eric Gray, Alex Jamerson, Dee Pinkard and forward Will Faiivae.

He has received oral commitments from guard Ryan McLucas, a potential transfer over from Oxnard College, and at least seven freshmen from within the school's recruiting area — Daniel Andrews (Ventura), Anthony Burtley (Lompoc), Jordan Harris (Channel Islands), Bobby Hillard (Oak Park), Randy Hunter (Righetti), Justin Jimenez (Pacifica) and Josh Marcus (Oak Park).

Coached by former VC guard Joey Ramirez, Hillard and Marcus led Oak Park to the CIF-SS Division III-AA title game. Hillard averaging 18.2 points per game and 7.7 rebounds per game. Harris was the Pacific View League's co-Most Valuable Player. Hunter, the two-time Lee Central Coast All-Area Basketball MVP, averaged 20 points and 12 rebounds per game. Burtley, a 6-foot-5 forward, earned the Los Padres League MVP award by averaging 21.8 points and 11.8 rebounds per game as a senior.

"At this point in time, I'm very pleased with the makeup of the team," said Mircetic. "We're two commitments away from getting everyone we went after."

Those two players are 6-foot-5 Ventura High forward James Ennis and an unnamed point guard.

Two other sophomores could also return. Mircetic said 6-foot-6 forward Kevin Menner, who led the state in scoring by a freshman last season, and 6-foot-9 center Angelo Whitehead would be welcome additions, although Menner has plenty of options and Whitehead is studying all summer in New York to maintain his eligibility.

"He talked to Jon Wyers last week and said he expects to come back," said Mircetic of Menner, "but we'll probably have to talk about that.

"Our team train is boarding and leaving and we're organizing. I don't want to get too excited, but our talent level is fine and our chemistry is excellent.

"As Kevin is making decisions, we are moving forward as a group. "