THOUSAND OAKS BASKETBALL COACHING STAFF
Logan Baltau
Varsity & Head Coach
Coach Logan has been a part of the TOHS basketball program for 7 years, and this is his third year as Head Coach. In 2024, Coach Logan lead the Lancers to the first basketball state playoff win in school history. The Lancers enjoyed the first ever 34-game season, reaching CIF playoff semifinals (Div 2AA) for the first time in over a decade. The Lancers also won their first league title since 2014 and broke numerous scoring records as a team and individually.
Coach Logan served his first two seasons as the JV Head coach where he won a league championship and was named Marmonte Coach of the Year. He then moved into the role of Assistant Varsity coach, where he served for two years. He took over as Head coach in 2022 and won 20+ games in his first year.
Coach Logan began his coaching career as the Varsity and Middle School Assistant Coach at Hillcrest Christian. He then transitioned to coaching AAU basketball. He was program director for the largest club basketb all program in Ventura County, while also teaching classes and running clinics for Momentum Academics. Coach Logan then transitioned to West Coast Elite where he is currently the Valley Program Director. He trained over 20 All Ventura Country players prior to joining TOHS.
Coach Logan also has years of experience working with NBA clients. He has worked with over 30 active NBA players, some of who have even visited the TOHS basketball program.
Steve Ornelaz
Varsity Asst. Coach
Coach “O” graduated from TOHS in 1977 and set the bar high in the Lancer program. His senior year he broke numerous career, season, and game records, and decades later several of those records remain! He was the first Lancer selected Marmonte League Player of the Year, Ventura Country Player of the Year, and All-CIF. He was the first of only a few Lancers in program history to score 1,000 points of more. His season scoring average of 24.7 points per game ranks #2 all time, and his per game rebound average of 13.1 ranks #1.
He went to excel at both Moorpark College and West Texas State University. Upon completing his college career, he competed at the professional level for several years in Mexico.
Coach Ornelaz has also been inducted into two Halls of Fame. In 2006, for his professional [playing days in Mexico and in 2017 to the Ventura County Sports Hall of Fame.
Today, he trains and works with the young and upcoming basketball talent in Ventura County. Many of them are former and future Lancers! He assists them in developming their athletic talent, helping them to take their game to a higher level.
Gio Hernandez
Varsity Asst. Coach
This is Gio’s fifth year with the TOHS basketball program, having coached both the Freshmen and Soph/Frosh teams in the past, and now coaching Junior Varsity.
Gio played at Hillcrest Christian (2009-2012). He served as Team Co-Captain alongside Coach Logan Baltau for three seasons and was and All-League Selection three times. Gio averaged 19 points per game and a league high 4.3 steals per game during his career. In the 2012 season, he was named Omega League Player of the Year.
Gio went on to graduate from Grand Canyon University with a degree in Healthcare Administration and an MBA.
Jason Levy
Jr. Varsity Head Coach
Coach Jason Levy brings a deep passion for basketball and a strong background as both a player and player development specialist. A standout point guard in Colorado, Jason played varsity basketball throughout high school before continuing his career at California Lutheran University, where he competed for two seasons. He later played one year at the semi-professional level, gaining valuable experience competing at a higher level of the game. With more than a decade of experience in player development, Jason has worked with athletes at every stage of the game, from youth players to high school and college athletes, and even NBA All-Stars. Along the way, he has trained under and worked alongside some of the top skills trainers in the country, including Johnny Stephene, Chris Johnson, and Cory Smith, giving him unique insight into modern skill development and elite training methods.
Jason also spent three seasons working with the Thousand Oaks High School Girls Varsity Basketball program, where he played a key role in helping elevate the team into one of the top-ranked programs in the area. In addition, Jason currently serves as the Head Coach of LVLUP Elite, a competitive AAU program focused on player development, exposure, and creating meaningful opportunities for athletes to grow both on and off the court.
Jason’s experience, energy, and commitment to player development make him a valuable addition to the program, and we are excited for the impact he will have on our players and the continued growth of TOHS basketball.
Jacob Burton
Jr. Varsity Asst. Coach
Coach Jacob Burton is a proud alumnus of Thousand Oaks High School and returned to the program this past season as the Junior Varsity Assistant Coach. Having once worn the Lancer jersey himself, Coach Burton brings a strong connection to the tradition, culture, and expectations of the TOHS basketball program.
In his role with the JV team, Coach Burton worked closely with players on skill development, game preparation, and building the habits that prepare athletes to compete at the varsity level. His familiarity with the program and his experience as a former Lancer allow him to relate to players while reinforcing the values of hard work, accountability, and team-first basketball that define the program.
Coach Burton is passionate about giving back to the program that helped shape his own basketball journey and is committed to helping the next generation of Lancers grow as players, teammates, and young men.
Sam Pantoja
Freshman Head Coach
This season marks Coach Sam’s fifth year with the Thousand Oaks High School basketball program. After spending two years as a player in the program, he transitioned into coaching and is now entering his third season on the TOHS coaching staff. This year he steps into a new role as the Sophomore/Freshman Head Coach.
Over the past two seasons, Coach Sam served as the assistant coach for the Sophomore/Freshman team, including the unforgettable 2024–25 season in which the team finished a perfect 25–0 and captured three tournament championships. During that time, he developed his coaching approach while working alongside Coach Logan and Coach Giovannie, gaining valuable experience in player development, game preparation, and team leadership.
Beyond his work with the program, Coach Sam will also begin his first year as a high school basketball official with the Channel Coast Officials Association, continuing to deepen his understanding of the game from multiple perspectives.
Coach Sam will attend Santa Monica College in the fall, where he plans to major in Sports Management. He is passionate about continuing to grow in the areas of coaching, leadership, and player development while helping young athletes reach their full potential both on and off the court.
Darrel Cole
Freshman Asst Coach
Coach Darrel Cole brings more than 30 years of coaching experience to the Thousand Oaks High School basketball program, working across youth, middle school, club, and high school levels. Over the years he has coached with multiple youth programs, served on the varsity staff at Oxford High School in Michigan, coached at Los Cerritos Middle School, and worked with the Swish Ocean Basketball Club. He is also the Head Coach and Founder of the SoCal Splash Basketball Club. Throughout his career, Coach Cole has helped hundreds of players develop strong basketball fundamentals while emphasizing the mental habits and character traits that lead to both personal and team success.
As a player, Coach Cole had an accomplished career that shaped his approach to coaching. He was a three-year varsity starter in high school and became the first 1,000-point scorer in his school’s history. After high school, he played junior college basketball where his team won a national region championship, before continuing his career at Oakland University in Michigan as a guard. Along the way, he had the opportunity to learn from some of the best minds in the game, including legendary Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, who awarded him the “Mr. Hustle” honor at a summer camp, and longtime Oakland University head coach Greg Kampe.
Coach Cole’s philosophy centers on defensive fundamentals, mental toughness, and building resilient competitors. He believes that strong defensive habits set the tone for team culture and that every player has a unique motivation that can unlock their best effort. His goal is to help players grow not only as athletes, but as young men who understand accountability, effort, and teamwork. He was drawn to coach at Thousand Oaks because of the culture and leadership of Head Coach Logan Baltau, whose commitment to developing players the right way made the program an easy choice. This season, Coach Cole is excited to bring energy, experience, and a deep passion for mentorship to the team.
Outside of basketball, Coach Cole works as an executive in public relations. He is married with two sons and trains at Tae Ryong Taekwondo, where he holds a fourth-degree black belt.