Joe Barcellos has been a coach for a long time.</p><p>In fact, as Los Banos High School's new athletic director, this coming school season will be the first in 22 years that he won't coach a sport. Luckily, he has a pal on the other side of town who is going through the same thing.</p><p>Charlie Pikas, who has been Los Banos High's co-head softball coach since he came from West High in Tracy four years ago, is the first athletic director for Pacheco High.</p><p>"Charlie and I have been really good friends since he came into the district," Barcellos said. "Our families vacation together, we go on trips together -- it's been really, really well. Professionally, it'll be just as smooth."</p><p>Nevermind that two guys who have shared the basketball sideline together (Pikas was an assistant for Barcellos for the last three years), neither one of them sees a problem with being on opposing sidelines.</p><p>"I hope they turn into a competitive rivalry, where we're both trying to keep up and we're both playing at high levels," Pikas said. "I look forward to the day when week 10 of the football season is determining the league title."</p><p>Added Barcellos, "We always kind of jaw back and forth. We root for different sports teams. I'm sure there'll be some fun natured ribbing with each other. But We're here for the kids, athletes and coaches. It'll never be personal."</p><p>Come next year, both schools will have varsity teams, both will be part of a seven-team Western Athletic Conference.</p><p>The two coaches are also both on the staff of the Los Banos Tigers youth softball program, with Pikas running the program and coaching the 18U team, and Barcellos coaching the 14U team. Pikas said that experience is as close as he's had to having an administrative position.</p><p>"Everything's gone a lot smoother than I thought, until this week, the facilities issues," Pikas said. "But all of our coaches understand, and we've worked together to realize it's just a small little speed bump, and once all the facilities are actually done, it's going to be real smooth after that."</p><p>When Pikas needed practice facilities while Pacheco's construction was being completed, Barcellos stepped in to lend a hand.</p><p>"Having him as the other AD is going to be a much easier experience than it would be if it was somebody else," Barcellos said, "because we get along, we can talk to each other."</p><p>Even though both new athletic directors are barely getting their feet wet, each is learning how to deal with aspects of the job they hadn't anticipated.</p><p>"It's not only naming coaches, but I had to order every single piece of equipment we thought we would need for a year, to start that process as well," Pikas said. "I got real good at filling out purchase orders."</p><p>Barcellos said there are things that come up that have nothing to do with sports.</p><p>"Ag wants to use the multipurpose room for a meeting. I'm the guy who has to schedule that," he said. "There's a lot more than hanging out and watching practices. There's budget, facilities, parents with situations to discuss. But I'm enjoying every minute of it. I'm really happy I'm in this position."</p><p>One person both men can look to for guidance is Los Banos High's former athletic director, Gary Caropreso.</p><p>"Gary was really helpful, once the transition was in the process," Barcellos said. "We have different styles, I'm sure, but he was really helpful with the things I need to be aware of as far as deadlines, transportations schedules, and what needs to be done."</p><p>Caropreso also happens to be Pikas' father-in-law.</p><p>"With Gary, one of the qualities I admire is he has worked so well in the community, and had a big impact," Pikas said. "I hope that I could represent Pacheco in the community the way he does Los Banos.</p><p>"He's somebody I can go to for advice; he's been willing to share things and give me pointers. I'm definitely not going to turn down any advice that's thrown out there. It would be silly for me to think I could walk right in there and do it all."</p><p>Come spring, Pikas will need to be on both campuses every day. He said he will continue as his wife's assistant for one last season on the softball field.</p><p>"It's kind of an important thing for us, because that's how we met, it's what got me down here, and we have a group that I want to finish with," Pikas said. "I've been given the OK to do that, and that's one thing I want to do."</p><p>Pikas won't be the only one running back and forth between the two sites.</p><p>"We have a handful of coaches in town who are working at one school and coaching at the other," Pikas said. "Our boys tennis and girls golf coaches are teaching at LB and coaching here. Their girls water polo is teaching over here and coaching over there."</p><p>Barcellos is looking forward to having a small part in all the school's teams.</p><p>"Before, it was all about basketball, and I didn't watch a whole lot of other sports unless my daughter was playing," he said. "But I'm learning a lot about the other sports that I haven't paid much attention to. Those kids work just as hard as any other athletes."</p><p>Enterprise reporter David Witte can be reached by phone at 388-6565 or by e-mail at sports@losbanosenterprise.com