SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO — Anthony Dimech knew the South San Francisco High boys soccer program needed a makeover when he assumed head coaching duties nearly four years ago.

As much as the Warriors needed to harness their talent to become a cohesive unit on the field, Dimech also believed the players had to assume a winning mind-set and to take pride in their program.

Thus, after South City's transformation took a huge step forward with a 19-1-1 season that included the team's first postseason victory in 12 years, Dimech was quick to provide an example of his players' burgeoning solidarity.

"It's hard for me to get the uniforms back from them. My first year, getting their uniforms back wasn't a big deal; even last year," said Dimech, 28, who also teaches P.E. at South City. "This year, they're holding onto them, so that shows it means something to them."

As a former star for Burlingame High and the player who scored the game-winning goal in the Panthers' 1997 Central Coast Section championship, Dimech could see South City's potential from the start of his coaching career.

"I remember when South City was good. No one wanted to go there to play," said Dimech, who went on to play at Cal Poly and UC Santa Barbara. "We're just trying to bring that back."

Under Dimech, the County boys soccer Coach of the Year, the Warriors are already realizing that goal.

Motivated by narrowly missing a Peninsula Athletic League Ocean Division championship

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the year before, South City rolled to the title with a perfect Ocean season. Squashing any sentiment that they were merely the best in the PAL's lower division, the Warriors also went 5-0 against Bay teams, including wins over Woodside and Sequoia, two of the upper division's tri-champions.

"He basically built the program there from the ground up. He has the ability to really motivate the kids to come out and play," Sequoia coach Kurt Devlin said of Dimech. "I think he's got the program rolling. They thumped us, that's for sure."

Dimech fondly remembers South City's gritty 2-1 victory over Westmont to open CCS.