Coach Vaughn Looks To Soar With Laney Eagles

Laney College now has two head coaches who have won state championships, with the hiring of Ramaundo Vaughn to guide the Eagles women’s basketball team.
Vaughn coached the Diablo Valley College women’s basketball team to the 2018-19 California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) State title.
His new boss, Laney football coach and athletic director John Beam, guided the Eagles to the college’s first CCCAA state football championship in 2018.
So, two community college coaching titans are sharing the same Oakland air space.
“I’m excited to work with Coach Beam, Last Chance U and all that. It will be exciting,” said Vaughn, referencing the nationally acclaimed Netflix Last Chance U series that offered an honest portrayal of Laney’s football players and their daily challenges.
Beam is thrilled to have Vaughn on board.
“We are extremely excited to get a coach of Ramaundo’s quality to come to Laney College,” Beam stated this week. “During his time at DVC he elevated the program to a state championship and, more importantly, he transferred a high percentage of his young women to four-year schools. That’s what we’re talking about — creating opportunities for young women in our community.”
Vaughn had a sterling 207-92 career record over 10 years at DVC, including sending 14 players to Division I play, after inheriting a struggling program. His 2019 team beat Moorpark 68-61 in the state championship game to finish 32-1 for the season. It marked DVC’s first state crown in women’s basketball.
Moreover, Vaughn’s teams gave back to the Pleasant Hill community through community service.
He replaces the respected Ron Williams at Laney after the former Eagles coach resigned to pursue other opportunities.
“He did a great job of building the program from the ground up,” Vaughn said of Williams.
Vaughn expects to hit the ground running in the Bay Valley Conference for the 2021-22 season. Bay Valley schools opted-out of playing this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but Laney opted-in for all sports but women's basketball because Beam hadn't hired Vaughn in time to commit to a season. Thus, barring a sudden influx of new women's players to fill out a roster, Vaughn's first season won't start until at least next fall.

“The opt-out allows me to go out and recruit, allows me to go out and find a team,” Vaughn says.

After parting ways with DVC in 2020, Vaughn interviewed for a coaching position at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, but those plans ended because of a hiring freeze during the pandemic. He also had reservations about leaving his family and going so far away.
Now he is excited to be able to build another program locally and sees recruiting advantages at Laney, located one block away from the Lake Merritt BART Station in a basketball hotbed area.

He intends to bring in the same type of quality player he had at DVC.
“I believe that things happen way they are supposed to,” Vaughn said. “I told Coach Beam my goal is to coach at a four-year level someday. My dad always told me to be great where you are: My goal is to be great at Laney and provide the same opportunities for young ladies that was entrusted us at DVC.”

During a special run at DVC, Vaughn's Vikings won three Big 8 Conference championships and he was selected conference Coach of the Year three times. His players earned five Big 8 MVP honors and two California Co-Player of the Year awards. His 13-year coaching career also includes three years as an assistant at Hawaii Pacific.

In 2018, Beam’s football team won the state championship with a 40-35 triumph over Ventura at Sacramento City. In the aftermath, Beam called the accomplishment “unbelievable.” He praised his players and Laney alumni.
“This championship shows that hard work and dedication pay off. This achievement lets the world know Laney works for its students,” he said at the time.
So, not surprisingly, Beam appreciates Vaughn’s emphasis on the whole student-athlete.
“Ramaundo has an intense focus of developing his players to the highest level and making sure they are successful in the classroom as well,” an impressed Beam said.