For his involvement in these accomplishments, the News-Press sports staff voted Zirovich the 2007 News-Press Coach of the Year.
The highlight of Zirovich's year was the girls' improbable playoff journey, which was set in motion by a surprising showing in the Pacific League tournament.
"[Prior to the league tournament] we had played what seemed like a million games that we lost by one goal," Zirovich said. "Things started to click because everything we had done in those games started putting confidence in the girls."
Starting with a semifinal win over No. 1-seed Burbank, the Nitros used a run to the tournament final to build momentum for the playoffs.
Victories over Louisville, La Salle and Rio Mesa followed, before Glendale was finally stopped by Arroyo Grande.
Throughout the run, players such as Lily Broussard, Casey Sripramong, Vanuhi Ovasapyan, Sara Wolff and Shaggy Abolian found a rhythm together at just the right time to complete a transformation from a third-place Pacific League team to a legitimate title contender.
While the Glendale boys' squad did not qualify for the playoffs, its 12-13 record was a considerable improvement over the 2005 campaign, in which the Nitros won just three games.
"It was about them believing in themselves," Zirovich said. "They had had something like four different coaches in three years, and the kids need stability.
"I learned more from them than they learned from me this season, and hopefully we can continue to win."
