During his 22 years coaching girls varsity basketball teams at Palos Verdes and Peninsula high schools, Yoshida claimed one national title (1992); two state titles (1991 and 1992) and six CIF-SS championships (1988 and 1991 at PV and 1992, 1996, 1998 and 1999 at Peninsula) in nine finals appearances.
He and his school have twice been given the Champions for Character award.
“This was a surprising honor,” Yoshida said. “I am humbled, thankful, and honored to be in the company of such great people who have been inducted into the CIF Hall of Fame. All the people before me have paved the way for people like me to have some success and fun in this great profession of educational high school athletics.”
Yoshida recorded 444 wins during the span of 22 years including 13 consecutive league championships from 1987-1999.
“Wendell started his coaching career at Palos Verdes High and took their basketball team from totally dismal to a CIF championship in the first few years,” Peninsula High Principal Mitzi Cress stated. “He believed that games were won and lost in practice. Athletes were students first and Wendell was always meticulous about checking the grades of his players. Under Wendell’s watch, everyone was treated the same, from the All-American to the substitute.
“Loyalty is an over-used word, but the word loyalty suits Wendell, I could not ask for a finer person to lead our athletes and coaches. He has never once deviated from the letter of the CIF rules: he holds them sacred.”
Yoshida has been named CIF-SS, CIF State and National Coach of the Year and is a member of the Southern California Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame.
Now in his 13th year as athletic director at Peninsula High School, Yoshida is a Certified Athletic Administrator with the National Athletic Administrators Association, a member of the CIF-SS Officials Fees and Relations Committee and the California State Athletic Directors Association along with serving as President of the South Bay Athletic Directors Association (Bay, Ocean, and Pioneer leagues).
